Here we go again!
Little reminder that every idea is noted! It merely depends how far their relationship has developed until I can use some. Because character development rules and no one is super intimate immediately, haha. Not to forget it's Japan. Romance, relationships are not that open, like they are in the western countries. At least not according to my research.
'Lionheart' is my first priority concerning updates! That's why my updates are so random here - since some were worried. 'Selfish' won't be abandoned! But I'm not a printer either, it takes time for me to plan and actually write these, I really want them to develop realistically and not dump clichés on them to update quicker.
(Towards the end of the chapter I kinda melt into Aomine's POV instead of Mia's, I hope it doesn't confuse you? I was uncertain. If it does, tell me! I'll edit.)
Thank you for all the follows, favorites and reviews!
Snowball Fight
"It's snowing again!"
Satsuki was squealing as she left their side to skip forward. Dashing past Sakurai who jumped at her sudden delight, and all you could see was her bright colored hair. How it swayed from side to side, whipping around before she turned to her friends. Eyes alight.
"Isn't it pretty?"
"It's cold." Nanami deadpanned, trying to bury her face deeper into a woolen scarf.
"Aw, but Na-chan. Just look!"
Mia couldn't help but smile to herself as her friend's face twisted into a grimace. Since that one weekend where the basketball club manager had joined them for a sleepover, it seemed that she had taken a liking to calling her by such an adorable nickname as well. Though Nanami didn't really seem to be too fond of it yet...or maybe she'd never really be.
"I am looking." The black haired girl replied calmly. "All I can see is the reason why I can't ride my bike to school anymore."
"So grumpy..." Satsuki sighed, looking towards the clouded sky. "...you sound just like Dai-chan."
"Oi." Aomine grumbled from the back of their small group, although his input sounded more or less half-hearted.
Maybe he was too tired, the orange-head mused as she turned slightly around to look at him. Their school day was over, just like their basketball practice. And Mia had spent her time at Nanami's club since her upperclassmen were all preparing to leave, resigning from their activity to concentrate onto their studies. Her dear friend was probably a bit lonely even if she didn't show it clearly, and to go home with the others had been a funny coincidence in the end.
A loud one as well that is.
"We should buy something on the way home!" Satsuki continued merrily. "Oh, oh - how about some meat buns? They are selling them not far from the station."
"Satsuki." Aomine drawled darkly. "Let's just go home."
Definitely tired, Mia thought.
"I don't wanna." The girl whined in return. "Since high school started, I barely went home with girl friends before! So now that I can, I want to enjoy it!"
"Enjoy what, Momoi-san?" Sakurai asked carefully.
The orange-head was certain, he still didn't know how exactly he had been pulled into this whole little 'going home together' trip. But the second he had mentioned that he had to do an errand close-by, Satsuki had immediately dragged him along, too. The pink haired student turned towards him with a determined expression on her face.
"Stop at a diner for example! Or buy sweets together, talk about school and...and girl stuff."
"Girl stuff." The tall basketball player echoed doubtfully, though his childhood friend only pouted.
"You wouldn't understand it, Dai-chan." She huffed. "Mi-chan and Na-chan do though, right?"
Nanami and Mia exchanged a quick glance, raising a brow in question. Did they? Did they truly understand it? The girls did stop at a diner once in a while but...what had they talked about up until now? Their last topic had been about a terrible horror movie they had seen together...and how the bad guy chose a terrible place to hide the bloody body...and how they had better ideas for sure...
"Girl talk." The orange-head piped up. "Sure."
"Yeah." Nanami deadpanned. "Obviously."
Aomine lifted an eyebrow as he glanced at Mia, leaving the girl no other choice but to avoid his gaze ever so innocently. She couldn't leave the bubbly girl hanging there with all her hopes and dreams. It was easy to imagine how hard it could be to hang out with others if you had to look after the tall basketball player all the time.
"See?" Satsuki mused contently.
The brown haired boy still merely blinked uncertainly at his club manager, deciding that it was the best to not interfere while Aomine was contemplating whether he had enough energy or not to continue his bugging. Laziness won though as he settled back into his slow pace, ignoring the snowflakes which were slowly landing onto his hair and broad shoulders.
The streets were already covered in white. The winter at its peak after New Year was over - and surprisingly even Tokyo was greeted by the fluffy snow. Mia could only try to become smaller to escape the cold until they finally reached the train station. Moving forward in their little mismatched group, where Satsuki continued to defend her romantic ideal. She blamed Aomine partly for scaring anyone around her away and the orange-head actually lifted her head and agreed.
He certainly did that with his attitude.
"Look!"
The pink haired girl easily ignored Aomine's scowl, stopping right in front of the entrance of a playground. The teenagers all followed the direction she was pointing at, taking in the familiar view of covered slides and climbing contraptions. Everything looked abandoned and untouched since the weather had chased the children away. But that what made it look so pretty, Mia thought. No footprints were to be seen, the layer of snow was growing quietly in peace.
That is until Satsuki reached for her hand and pulled her with her.
"Come on, Mi-chan!"
"Wha-"
The orange haired girl stumbled after her friend, slipping over the frozen ground before she found her balance again thanks to Satsuki's hold. The crisp sound of crunching snow filled the quiet air, any tiny position she had found before to escape the cold wind was thrown out of the window. But Mia could hardly be upset as the bubbly club manager grinned brightly into her direction.
"We're the first ones here!"
"The first?" Mia echoed puzzled, turning around towards the others who were still standing at the entrance.
But then she noticed just what exactly Satsuki had meant. The untouched snow had now footprints in them. Leading from the sidewalk towards their very spot, one more deformed than the other pair since the orange-head had nearly fallen. Although something about that sight created a childish tingling in the girl's guts... similar to the feeling of claiming a castle or fort in a tale.
"We are." Mia agreed with a laugh. "Nanami! Come on, join us!"
"No way."
"Na-chan, don't be grumpy anymore!"
Nanami's ever so calm expression darkened a bit as she glared over the rim of her thick woolen scarf.
"...I'm not grumpy."
"Then let's build a snowman!" Satsuki continued happily. "Or a snowbunny, I haven't build one in forever."
"Satsuki." Aomine grumbled. "I wanna go home."
The only reply he received was a tongue which his childhood friend stuck out to him, fearless as ever. And his face darkened. The vein on his temple throbbing as his warm home and awaiting nap was postponed just like that. By a girl who was already crouching down to the untouched snow, gathering some with her fluffy gloves.
Nanami ventured over to them, defeated by their bulletproof arguments. Which were none, to be honest. But she stood beside them either way, watching the club manager's attempt to create a tiny snowman while Sakurai still hung back. The poor boy was too nervous to leave Aomine's side just like that.
"Tch...this is so goddamn annoying..."
The blue haired teen was still pulling a face, kicking the snow at his feet.
He never saw the snowball coming which hit his shoulder, near his jaw and ear, from the side.
Sakurai gasped beside him, his brown eyes growing wide in fear as he stared at his tall classmate who was blinking dumbfounded. His frown got washed away by the surprise he felt, the hard lines growing soft as he seemed to look at something in the air. But then his heavy gaze finally travelled towards the girls. Locking with the very culprit who was already forming another snowball with her rosy red hands...
"Ooh, you didn't just do that." Aomine said quietly, lifting a hand to get rid of the melting snow on his ear.
"I think, I did actually." Mia replied. "My aim has gotten better, hasn't it?"
"Heh?" The blue haired teen slowly started to grin, sliding his schoolbag off his shoulder. "Ryō."
"Yes!" The boy beside him yelped as Aomine walked towards the playground.
"This calls for a fight."
"E-eh?"
The tall teenager chucked his schoolbag into his classmate's arms, not even looking at the nervous boy who struggled for a little while with the new weight. Sakurai was terrified of the possibility that he could have let it fall to the ground. But Aomine was already busy, bowing forward to gather a bit of snow himself.
Mia eagerly copied his actions, until suddenly Satsuki pulled her away. The orange-head yelped out of surprise, puzzled as to why her friend would do that. But the explanation came flying pretty fast, hitting the exact spot she had been a while ago.
"Satsuki."
"Give it up, Dai-chan! I can definitely predict your every move!"
Smiling cunningly the pink haired club manager pointed at him, not even noticing the amazed look Mia threw at her. Nanami, however, took a few steps back to put a bit distance between herself and the obvious upcoming battle zone. Clapping her hands calmly to congratulate the red flag which had been hissed, she had always been more of an observer than participant anyway.
"Oh, really?" He drawled lazily, crouching down. "Then I guess, I just have to throw so many that ya got no time to think."
"What?"
But the first snowball came already flying towards her, giving her barely a chance to quickly jump aside. The tiny unfinished snowman was easily abandoned as Satsuki hurried to make a snowball too, joining Mia who was already throwing one at Aomine again.
It didn't take long until the tall teenager was barking orders to Sakurai, demanding from him to help his teammate out. And after stuttering and apologizing because the poor boy didn't know where to put their schoolbags first - there was snow everywhere after all - he became Aomine's sidekick who started to create one snowball after another.
Mia lifted her arms to shield her face, before she even dared to throw another snowball of her own. It was unfair, certainly, that her rude classmate was so good at aiming and throwing things. Now where he paid attention, it was even harder to even hit him! And as she followed her white round weapon with her eyes, she couldn't help but panic as it collided with Sakurai's forehead instead.
Her aim was still sucking so much.
"Oh my gosh! Sorry, Sakurai-san!"
"I'm sorry for standing in the way!" He immediately yelped, bowing his head.
But the orange-head furrowed her brow in answer. He wasn't in the way! He was standing- no, not even that. He was crouching nearly the whole time, busy making snowballs while Aomine stood beside him. The blue haired teen was definitely the easier target!
"There are only enemies on the battlefield!" Satsuki laughed beside her, aiming at her childhood friend who quickly lowered his head to dodge her snowball. "Sorry, Sakurai-kun! You're on the wrong side- and stop dodging, Dai-chan!"
"Well, make me." Aomine replied, smirking. "It ain't my fault you suck-"
Finally!
Mia couldn't help but cheer and throw her arms into the air. Her new snowball had hit him just fine. The snow clung to the right side of his face, sliding down his jaw and neck into his thick winter jacket. And quickly the tall teenager cursed, trying to get the melting ice flakes out of his sweater and shirt.
She was laughing at first. But then Aomine's glare landed on her and any humor she had felt vanished in an instant.
"Mia."
The orange-head yelped and stumbled as she tried to turn around quickly.
"It was a fair move!" She called over her shoulder before she started running.
"Fair my ass!"
She could definitely hear that he started chasing after her, and even though the ground was slippery, Mia was trying her best to pick up her pace. The playground wasn't that big to begin with, stone walls were closing it off to not invade the neighbors' properties, except the entrance, of course. But her problem was that the exit had been behind the blue haired teen's back and she was now fleeing into the complete different direction!
Rushing over to the climbing contraption and the round hill which was graced by a big hole to crawl into it - the orange haired teenager attempted to run around those. She hoped she'd be faster than him and escape through the exit then. Or maybe jump into Satsuki's arms - the bubbly club manager would surely safe her from her classmate's wrath.
But Mia forgot who she was exactly dealing with here, she thought. Because the very moment she reached the hill, ready to dash around it - two arms appeared from behind her and closed around her midsection. With a gasp, the girl was lifted into the air. Her feet kicking out helplessly as she felt a hard chest pressing against her back.
And then she was laughing. Laughing and gasping for the cold winter air, because this whole thing was just so hilarious in the end.
"Aomine!"
Mia was squealing his name, her freezing hands reaching for his arms to at least hold onto something while her legs were still in midair. But the blue haired teen showed no mercy. She could hear him breathing right behind her left ear, his awkward hug tightening to keep her up - but he was grinning. She just knew it. And as terrible as he was, he pressed his cold nose and cheek against her burning neck. Forcing her to feel the wet, freezing skin from the spot she had hit him with her snowball.
The girl's laughter turned into a yelp, automatically squirming around in order to put more space in between them - but Aomine was a stubborn guy. He was definitely enjoying her misery. A deep, quiet laughter rumbling his chest - before her movement was enough to make him lose his balance...at that point his expression quickly twisted into a grimace.
Her gasp and his curse of surprise were everything that filled the air as the basketball player fell backwards, taking the poor girl with him.
The force of their fall certainly knocked the air out of Aomine's lungs. Mia's weight crushed upon him without a real warning too, his behind and lower back landing in the thin layer of snow before he was able to catch himself. It was all a strange mix between cold and warmth. A pretty embarrassing sight for sure, too. Though luckily the climbing hill concealed their accident from any curious eye...
"Ow, damn it all..."
The basketball player was groaning. His hip had certainly felt the hard floor beneath the snow just fine.
"Ya fine?"
The orange haired girl nodded in return, shaken a bit by the unexpected crash.
"I'm okay." She replied breathless. "That scared me for a moment."
Aomine blinked at the back of her head. At first a bit uncertain if maybe she wasn't fine after all even though he had taken the worst of their fall. But her stiff body finally relaxed after she inhaled the cold air around them, the small adrenaline push her body had pumped through her veins ceasing.
"Shouldn't have tried to flee from me then."
The girl scoffed immediately, her lips twitching into a smile because it could only be him to do that. Blame her instead of his reaction and idea to run after her anyway. Stupid. Mia turned around to look him into his eyes, ready to add her own little clever comeback - but as quick as their gazes had met, she had turned forward quickly again.
Right.
Awkward position and all that, she forgot.
"What?" Aomine drawled, lifting an eyebrow.
"Uh..." Her fingers picked at his sleeves which still hung loosely around her stomach. "...let go?"
He was staring at the back of her head again, for a second not really getting her sudden denial. However, it didn't take the teen long to notice her familiar burning ears. The way she bowed her head forward to escape his curious glance. Her tall classmate started grinning as he hugged her even closer, squeezing her stomach with more strength than before.
"Aah? I couldn't hear ya? What was that?"
Mia groaned in annoyance, pushing back against him with all her might.
"Ahomine."
"Hey, I can actually feel your-"
The orange-head pressed both of her soles against the ground, using that leverage to throw all of her weight against his chest. And thanks to her rare luck, he hadn't expected her to do that, she guessed. Because Aomine fell backwards, his upper body landing in the snow forcefully.
"Shit." His grip immediately loosened as the tall teen reached for his neck. "Cold, cold, cold!"
Mia scrambled to her feet, laughing. That was certainly a small but worthy victory, watching him shove the snow out of his jacket once again because of her. But it was his fault, she couldn't stress enough that he was always the one teasing her. Rubbing her flustered cheeks, the girl stared at her classmate who finally sat up with a heavy frown on his face.
"That was evil."
"You're evil."
Aomine sneered, though his lips curved into a small grin.
"Never said I wasn't."
Mia smiled back, offering him her hand despite the fact that a part of her was still wanting to throw a whole lot of snow into his face. He just always found a way to dance upon the thin thread of being really nice and funny, and just really, really annoying and rude. So with a little struggling she pulled the tall teen to his feet who had allowed her to help him up, holding onto his familiar rough hand which was still so very warm even after they had played with the snow.
And unlike her, Aomine appeared to be always so smooth in moments like these, tugging her forward in order to sling his arms around her form. She was still very much blushing, having no time to recover from their embarrassing fall. But his warmth was welcomed, her freezing fingers seeking the inside of his open winter jacket to warm up. Maybe she should have worn gloves after all.
"Aomine?"
"Just a second." He replied, squeezing her. "Damn Satsuki is always meddling..."
Mia's heart was fluttering, forcing her lips to spread into a broad smile as she hugged him back. She pressed her face into his dark sweater, taking in the warmth and scent he spread. Always clean with the note of soap. He always showered after basketball practice after all. But there was this certain note too which was just him and him alone.
Yeah, the girl thought, couple stuff is nice.
And she couldn't help but feel amused by the grudge he seemed to have against his childhood friend. The cheery girl who loved to come by now nearly every lunch break to eat with Nanami and her, or walk home with her sometimes - at least until the orange-head had to go off the train. It felt like Aomine had never realized how often he hung around Satsuki all the time, and she around him until he wished she wasn't there twenty-four hours a day.
To the basketball player it felt like he had to actually share the very girl in his arms with the bubbly club manager.
Something, he wasn't too fond of really.
Mia closed her eyes for a second, just listening to wind and echoes of the city around them. And his strong heartbeat, of course, every throb was pounding against his chest where she had pressed her face against. Aomine lowered his head until he able to rest his temple against the top of her bright head, squeezing her figure a bit closer. Just a bit more-
Before a snowball hit his broad back with full force.
The blue haired teen was already groaning in annoyance, knowing very well who it would be. And the light voice didn't wait long to reveal the identity of the culprit.
"I'm here to save Mi-chan!"
Aomine was glaring lazily over his shoulder at Satsuki, still reluctant to let go of Mia completely.
Yeah, he really wasn't one to share.
"I guess, it can't be helped..."
Drawling the words with a heavy sigh, the tall teenager released the orange-haired girl. Mia blinked at him curiously, watching him bent down to gather a lot of snow. But not to just make a small snowball like before, no, but a bigger one - way bigger, too huge to be made by small hands. The orange-head was certain her blush was finally fading as she watched Aomine pick-up a snowball which resembled a basketball in its size.
"Aomine..."
"No playin' fair anymore."
"Dai-chan, don't you dare..." Satsuki said slowly, though his smirk was only growing in size as he saw the childish panic grow in the pink haired girl.
But that guy already dared to throw it, making his childhood friend scramble to the side to escape the extremely big ball of snow. The pretty teen was about to glare at him, preaching him that this was anything but fair - Aomine, however, was already starting to make another one. The malicious twinkle in his eyes never wavering...
"Na-chan!" Satsuki immediately turned away, rushing back towards the front of the playground. "I need you on my team!"
"Can't we go home yet?" Nanami's voice resounded in the distance. "I'm getting cold."
"But we still haven't built a snowman yet!" The female voice encountered, before she suddenly gasped. "Wait- where're you going, Na-chan? Na-chan, wait!"
"It's Nanami."
"Sakurai-kun, stop her!"
"Eeeh?"
The blue haired teen sighed, rubbing his hands against his pants to dry them. Somehow it felt like, his life had never ceased to be noisy even after he had graduated from Teikō. Leaving his loud and mismatched teammates behind...instead of them he had an absolutely loud and annoying captain now. A classmate who apologized for breathing - even if his bentos were pretty good. And new people who tried to get into the official basketball team...not to forget Satsuki who suddenly had become a rival in her own way.
A small hand awoke him from his train of thought, cold, just like the winter air around them. But the fingers intertwined with his anyway, and his own body welcomed it whole-heartedly. Holding onto the hand immediately without a second thought...
"Come on." Mia murmured. "Or Nanami will leave us all behind."
His dark gaze flew to her profile, before he couldn't see it anymore since she pulled him forward. Leading the two of them back to the others who were still talking to another in the distance, she was still red though. Blushing, since this all here was the public. And she was so easily embarrassed. Aomine started to grin to himself, because even though of all that-
She had been the first to reach for his hand that day.