Chapter 13: Untouchable

"I'm only going to come to watch your game if you come the day after to watch my race," she replies for the third time as she lazes upon the roof, hands acting as her pillow as she silently traces the shapes the clouds above head make. Almost lazily her emeralds slide over to the tall teen a few feet away from her, a frown tugging at her lips. Already he's asked her three times, persistent for whatever reason. The last two times she answered with 'maybe' and 'we'll see'. However, apparently third time's the charm because her answer seems to be acceptable- if only barely.

Aomine's own gaze is pulled away from Mai-chan, her smile looking down at him gently even as he looks to the fiery young woman not too far from him. He pauses. Would it be worth his time?...A slow shrug comes from his shoulders, seemingly not bothered by whether or not it is. A normal friendship- AKA, not his and Satsuki's- is about equal give and take, right? He's not completely certain, seeing as he's never had any other friends other than her and the others from middle school. But it seems like Tensai is being pretty reasonable. "Sure. Where's it being held?"

"It's a little far from where the game is but still worth it; Kawaguchi," she admits.

"Kawaguchi?" the tan male repeats, falling silent soon after. However, just when Tatsumaki is prepared to hear his denial, he grunts, "Sure. I'll go".

This makes the runner grin broadly and settle further into her hands, eyes closing as a pleased tiredness comes to her. "Good. I'll be crushing them".

"Just as you should be," he returns, not looking her any longer and back to Mai-chan instead where as her gaze relaxes only onto her eyelids.

Later finds her making her way through the doors as a normal person. Someone unknown, another face in the crowd of fans who want to see nothing short of a spectacular game. She moves with the others, paying for her ticket in order to enter the stadium that holds her goal. She's dressed herself in casual clothing today, a simple light blue crop top paired with a set of jean shorts and flip flops. Clothing meant for summer, but with spring being rather warm this time around she can get away with it. She stuffs her simple but thin wallet back into the pocket of her shorts, caring little for any looks she gets for having white hair. Yes, her hair is white. Yes, it's natural. Get over it. Today, she has but one goal. To watch her friend crush his enemies under his feet. This friend, however, is right at her side where as he should be out on the floor as they step through the tunnel that would lead him to the bench.

"You can stay here," he assures with a shrug, "No one will notice you since they'll be too busy watching me kick ass. Sorry there isn't a spot for you to actually sit".

Tatsumaki merely smiles and claps the taller being on his shoulder, squeezing slightly to show that everything is fine with her. "Just have fun, 'kay?" She honestly doesn't care that she has to stand for a while. If it comes down to it, she'll sit on the floor- a little dirt never hurt. All the same, she watches his head nod once as his blue eyes look at her from their corner and he slips from her hold. InterHigh. What an intense air it has to it. Deadly if one were to let oneself get pulled to hard and too fast into the situation at hand. Her eyes drift up, looking at the score board. However, looking at the other team's expression would have worked just fine too; the stubborn determination is only a look she's seen on those losing. As opposed to stubborn confidence- something worn by those with the advantage. She watches the short exchange between the coach, a teacher whom she an Aomine both won't have until their next year or, before the tall bronzed teen turns and looks to her. Their gazes meet only for Aomine to address the coach again. This makes Tatsumaki's head tilt, curious. He's stretching, but he's also saying something to the man that handles the team and everything they say or do.

What confuses her even further is Aomine's return to her. Instead of saying anything though, he instead simply reaches down and takes her hand carelessly before pulling her from the hallway. She has no choice but to let him guide her to the bench where Momoi and her coah sit, and she only does so herself when she is positioned there and her shoulders are pressed down upon. Now what she's left to wonder, after figuring out that this is what her friend had been talking to his coach about, is why he had done that. She was fine otherwise. She wasn't complaining or anything. "Hey Tensai-chan," the pink haired manager smiles to the white haired ace, welcoming and warm in her greeting.

"Momoi," she greets in turn, placing either hand on either side of her thighs to help her relax. "You know I was fine where I was, right Aomine? There was no need to talk to Katsunori-sensei into letting me be there".

"Yea well I want you there," Aomine confidently states as the coach announces a substitution upon the buzzer announcing the end of the first half and a ten minute break.

The white haired girl feels kind of flattered, though she cannot bring herself to fully thank him. Instead, she casually tosses a towel to the sweaty Captain whom is smiling and headed in her direction. The gray eyes that meet her greens hold no small amount of amusement as he greets her, "Well hello Tensai-san. I had not imagined that you would be here of all places, let alone on our bench".

"I had been planning on coming, just not for the front row seat," she answers her senpai plainly, tossing him the near by water bottle that he begins to reach for as they converse, "Aomine didn't give me a choice though".

"Well, I can't say I complain," Imayoshi allows as he watches the girl take his towel and bottle upon his silent but certain announcement that he needs neither of them any longer. "You did after all bring us our secret weapon," not that he's much of a secret from opposing players. Especially for this team; they had been expecting him first and foremost only to have everyone but Aomine show up first thing.

"I didn't bring him," she disagrees. However, the third year's smile only widens. As the buzzer announces that the ten minutes are already up, she has no choice but to watch them leave, jogging across the flooring with light steps and a confident stride for each of them.

That is until a pair of blue eyes enters her vision, their owner placing his face into her personal space with little care. "Watch me destroy them. Okay?" he wants her to watch him closely. Him and only him, there is no need for her to look at anyone else. However he doesn't bother to tell her the reasoning behind his command. "That's an order".

She had been planning to do that anyways, to say the least. However, with it being an official order, she can't go against him lest she earn herself a punishment. The last one had been pretty bad- who mixes pepsi and pickle juice and then tells someone else to drink it?- and she doesn't want a repeat if it's the last thing she does. Aomine certainly has ways on how to torture a girl.

From the moment the blue haired giant steps onto the court to the point where his eyes meet the gaze of the other basketball ace, there is a tangible tenseness in the air. So thick, it is, that one could wear just it as a full body coat during the coldest of winters and the person would still be toasty warm. And then the game begins again. To say that it is alive with ferocity is an understatement, one which the user would have to be beaten with the bench she sits on as punishment. It is only thanks to her own skill, she realizes, that allows her to truly see more than half of Aomine's movements. So savage and rapid they are that even then it is hard to tell what he may or may have not done. There are times when she must ask Momoi if she was understanding Aomine's goal properly, wanting to be on the same page as the male whom had ordered her gaze stay on. She does just that, loyally watching his tall frame speed forth and back across the court as though it were something simple. Something that did not require at the very least vast amounts of endurance. Apparently Touou seems fixated on using a special team set up that allows those that specialize to face down one another. Basically, a set up perfectly made for the two first year starters.

She must say, though, that while in Stride his skill would be utterly useless, Kuroko's misdirection is more than just something. It, much like any of the skills that are on that court, has been finely tuned and carefully formed in order to fit the special user and them alone. Magic tricks, misdirection has helped to create the most simple of them, can only get someone so far however. Eventually eyes get used to the slight of hand or the movement of the body in general. However he had to have worked very hard to master such a little known skill and apply it to basketball of all things. To be able to, as successfully as this guy, takes more than simple skill with a little tweaking. It takes dedication. So do any of their abilities, but she is certain there is more than one person out there with incredible vision or tricks to mess with the viewer. However, she's not completely certain that such ability to take advantage of one's own lack of presence and mix it with slight of hand tricks so beautifully. Color Tatsumaki impressed.

And yet even then, Aomine blasts forth, much like her own namesake being capable of ripping through just about any and every defense against it. And behind him, carnage and destruction in the form of his team mates follow along taking out those who hardly hold on. Seirin's refusal to back down is both...Admirable and annoying. Admirable because it is easy to give up in the face of someone stronger than you. So simple, that it is pathetic. Annoying because they are only drawing out their own demise, something that is obviously inevitable even to someone whom is only just starting to understand the sport. But despite the pitiful attempts made by the enemy and the all powerful blows of her ally, she cannot force herself to walk or look away like Momoi seems to be doing via hiding her face behind a clip board. She cannot take her eyes off of the battle field, a place where metaphorical blood is shed and bodies hit the floor. Instead, her pretty emeralds stay glued to the scene, or more specifically the young man whom seems to be a god at the sport.

The buzzer sounds off, silencing the crowd that had become wild with excitement and cheers for their preferred team to win. The score board announces the points left frozen there as the clock strikes zero, bringing the game to a final halt. For some, there is a warm pride and joy, pleased with the results of the game. For others, only sorrow and frustration, cracked confidence, lingers in the air. The special guest's eyes however stay on Aomine as he speaks to Kagami, barely hearing his darkly uttered words before they can line up and thank one another for a good game. She watches as Kagami fights his own nerves, his own feelings, as his hands ball up and uncurl over and over. The teams line up, and at the referee's command bow to one another to thank the other for a good game- though the thanks are obviously fake. Depression litters the air despite the pride that wafts off of each Touou player as they make it to the bench and after gathering their things head for the locker room. That is save for one certain teen.

Tatsumaki watches as he slinks his way off the court numbly, his strides long and purposeful as he heads straight for the tunnel that holds the locker room. Curious, and only nodding to Momoi when she asks her to go after him, she stalks his steps, walking behind him with lighter steps than his stomping ones. His shoulders are slumped and his head hung low as he walks in solitude, seemingly confident that he will run into no one and therefore he can let the mask she's been seeing this whole time fall. The bravado that speaks of an uncaring asshole whom only searches for enemies to crush shatters as he turns around a corner and slumps against the wall isolated from all but her prying eyes. Seh carefully make sure he doesn't notice her- she doesn't want him to put the walls back up.

Most people cannot tell that the mask is there, unstable but strong, keeping Aomine's raw guilt from breathing and stinging from contact with the outside world much like a gaping wound. They are the same, he and her, so of course she could see it. But she dare not bring up this fact to him lest he deny everything. But unlike herself, she wants him to heal, because he has the potential to thanks to the team that just lost- the battle has ended but not the war just yet- where as she does not. There is no one like Kuroko and Kagami out there looking to pull her from her high horse, to break her pedestal, to put her in her place. She wasn't from a Generation of Miracles like Aomine was, she does not have a shadow whom wishes to repair her. But enough about her, at this moment she is focused on Aomine.

She wants to let him acknowledge the pain he currently feels- if he sees her, he's going to just bottle it up again. And who knows when he would over flow or fall and shatter all together?

"Damn it," Aomine groans low in his throat, the sound rumbling pathetically from his vocal cords. "Why didn't you win? You said you were going to show me your basket ball and yet all you gave me was some shit that I disassembled and put together even worse than it was before. And Tetsu...Poor Tetsu. I did it again; I hurt him like the asshole I am. God, I don't know what I'll do if I find out that I broke him," if he turned out like everyone else, without a love for basketball and traumatized by the defeat. If Kuroko was broken to the point of never playing again...Aomine would never forgive himself. Thumping the back of his head against the wall he stacks himself against, his eyes pivot in the direction of the shadow that poorly hides itself. "What should I do...Tensai?"

Tatsumaki jumps, her poorly hidden shadow copying her with little remorse as she realizes that this is what gave her away. Otherwise she would have remained unseen. What surprises, and flatters, her is that he doesn't bother to hide the pitiful expression on his features. The look of woe and disappointment- the self hatred for doing that to poor Kuroko and his new found light. "...Wait for them to recover," she states slowly, "If they were willing to fight you and the others that long only to lose, then I doubt they'll give up any time soon. They'll bounce back before the Winter Cup. I'm certain of it".

"How?" Aomine returns as the girl sits down in front of him. A frown deepens his depressed look into something that certainly does not fit on the normally egotistical freshman's face. "How do you know that they'll stand back up?" It irritates the young woman to see him like this, hurt and almost lonely. There is something of a lostness to him as well, which further proves that he hadn't fully wanted to hurt Kuroko like that- or rather, make him cry at the very least- but his desire to win and remain the best like he always has been drove him forward. She can understand that it's something he cannot control- winning is in his nature as much as it is in hers.

"Because Kuroko is obviously determined to free you of your curse," she allows at length with a long shrug, "He wouldn't have fought so hard if he didn't think he could do it".

"How do you know?" The girl sighs at Aomine's lack of trust in her judgment. Of course, he has every right to. How could she understand him and his situation fully? She doesn't have someone looking to break her curse.

With a small smile that she offers him, she answers, "I just do". Or rather, she has a feeling she's right. When she had helped Riku train the boys for endurance, she didn't talk much to Kagami and Kuroko. She didn't get the chance, really, as she was busy studying their running and trying to think up ways with Riku to help them. But, seeing the way the two played and how they were determined to get her running drills done- though Kuroko kept on needing breaks due to lack of stamina- she could use those examples to support her current statement.

None the less, he grunts. "Whatever," the mask has returned, "I'll just crush them again. Tensai let's go catch the train back".

"Fine," she relents. "Remember, my race is coming up. You're still coming to watch, right?" This lightens the mood if only a little as she watches him spread an amused smirk her way.

"You are going to win, right?" There's no point in watching if she's going to lose.

Tatsumaki confidently nods, "I think I'll give us a larger lead this time. Of course I'll win. The only one who can beat me is me". Spotting the amused smirk upon hearing her word, she stands and offers a hand to the larger male. So what if getting him to his feet may be difficult? Or it could be easy, who knows? Either way, she wraps her fingers around his palm when he takes her offer and pulls. He's not surprisingly heavy, but she does manage to an extent. They begin to walk down the hall, not really caring for the fact that they may have been left behind by his team. She supposes that Momoi knows her to be with the ace, and figures it's best to leave the two alone. Either that or she's angry with Aomine for beating Seirin like he did and is ignoring him. Something tells her though that it's the former.

Speaking of Seirin...She should probably call Riku and send her condolences. Tatsumaki doesn't like that the girl's hard work didn't pay off, but she will not hate Aomine for winning. While she's known Riku for longer, she finds her loyalty with her fellow Touou student.

A few days later finds her walking off of the train with little care with her team. She had heard good things about this team, one called Honan. She knows of them well, seeing as the school has a good history of winning runners. Having won the End of Summer tournament finals due to an incredibly duo- whom should be third years by now- dominating the race with fantastic team work and incredible transitions from runner to runner. Honestly she's excited to see what the team will bring her; she cannot wait to crush them. Her strides are strong and swift, more than simple confidence radiating from her body. This will be the first time she actually wants to run of her own volition. Ichijyokan was something forced upon her. But this is different.

"Is she okay?" Yatsuhiro grumbles, his eyes warily following the girl whom walks at the front of their group. "She seems...Different".

"Perhaps she is focused?" Asei offers curiously himself. This morning when they met at the train station, she was already there with Nobuyuki at her side and sending her oddly weary side glances. The gentle black haired third year Vice Captain purses his lips, "I hope there is nothing wrong though. It could distract us from our goal".

Hanabusa upon hearing this grunts, "If I see any sign of distraction coming from her when we get there, she's not running". Honan was once a Stride powerhouse after all. And while it has been quiet due to certain circumstances, he's heard good things about the new team as of recently. Strong runners with two first years that have massive potential. A team that was once as brilliant as Honan with two fantastic runners is more than enough of a threat to him. They need the girl at the front of their group to win for certain. However, if she's not going to be focused then he'll toss her to the side like a tool that needs to be sharpened; he is confident that they will still win without her though it'd be a close call.

"Are you certain that's a wise move Taicho?" Satoshi disagrees. Is he the only one who can see how excited the other first year is? "Perhaps she is merely excited".

At his side, situated between Yatsuhiro and Satoshi, Misoka nods. "It is quite possible," his deep voice rumbles, "However is is worrisome that we cannot tell what is going on with her".

Breaking up the conversation is a green haired male with red eyes, his strides carrying him to his childhood friend's side. However before he fully passes them, he gives them a morbid glance. He knows all too well what is going through Tensai's head. He can see her fingers twitching excitedly within the pockets of the track pants that keep her muscles warm for the time being, waiting to be removed before the race. "Don't underestimate her," he utters lowly. "She's excited and that's not necessarily a good thing. She'll be trying for real today". He hasn't seen her try for real in a very long time. He prays for Honan's sake that she doesn't go all out. He's read about the history of the school. Once a famous place for the sport, only to fall from fortune when a dispute between runners occurred. The team has been small, miniscule even, ever since and unable to run in races due to lack of team members. However this year, Honan's Stride team managed to get their hands on two upstarts with high potential and ability that most beginners cannot obtain unless they train themselves into the ground.

Honan is dangerous.

And unfortunately for them, they will not be winning this round.

Tatsumaki is disappointed that unlike with Aomine, she cannot get him a front row seat. Mainly because there is no seating. However, instead she got him a pass that allows him to be with her up until the point where she begins to run. He is silent as he looks around the area, spotting everything that has been built or set up for the race that will only last a few moments. The stage with a short cat walk, the Relationer's tent and the multiple wide screen TVs that have been situated to help track the entire race for everyone to see instead of just bits of it. The announcers that will be explaining just what is going on to the massive crowd that's come to watch and finally the area where the enemy team has gathered. Touou's team has been situated around a fountain this being their assigned spot before the race begins. The air about this place is similar to the feel around a court during a basketball game; excitement and determination, curiosity. All of these things twist and turn around one another, mixing into the atmosphere and spreading like some pungent perfume.

He had never figured she could bend certain ways, but when she bends her spine to the point where she's touching the ground with her hands and looks almost like that weird ghost from the Grudge he can't help but be at least a little impressed. And further interested. What other shapes can she contort her body into? His eyes glance to the others that are going to run. Yatsuhiro has been pulled from the running, it would appear, his spot being taken by Tensai herself. His eye twitches when Misoka does a split, something no guy- especially a tall one- should be able to do. Instantly his gaze is returned to his friend whom is now merely stretching her arms. He can see her emerald eyes burning like green fire, the energy around her an alive thing looking to tear down anything she touches. Here and there her muscles twitch, energy unable to escape looking for a way out. However her face is calm despite this excitement. He knows what she's feeling rather well, he supposes. Though he doesn't get twitchy in his excitement. He hangs back when the two teams are brought to the stage, lining up in running order with Tensai at the end closest to him to show that she'll be the Anchor. Across from him is...Satoshi?

…..No. Not Satoshi. As Aomine spots the real Satoshi at Tensai's side, and when they leave their line ups to sit on golf carts to take those that aren't the starter to their starting points, he notices the difference. Needless to say, when he spots his friend motioning for him to come forth, he does as suggested and sits with her in the back. The Satoshi doppleganger sits in the front next to the driver, silent and stoic but obviously mentally preparing for the race ahead. "So, who's the Satoshi look alike?"

Tensai raises a brow and then looks over her shoulder to her opponent- the one she will be crushing. However it is said look alike whom answers, "He is my half brother". Looking over his shoulder to meet Tensai's gaze as well as the stranger's he greets, "I am Fujiwara Takeru," for the sake of the stranger. This further allows the two Touou aces to spot that while Fujiwara has two blue eyes, the natural color of Satoshi's eyes is blue and gold- he has heterochromia.

"Half brother huh? Too bad you'll be losing," Aomine grunts. Even though the two that look alike may be family, it probably causes some tension between the two. Being a child, he doesn't understand sibling feuds. Nor how the hell they look like twins but are classified as half siblings. Whatever.

"I do not think I will be," Fujiwara disagrees, but turns back forward as though to conclude the conversation with the tall bronzed first year.

Tatsumaki in the mean smirks darkly despite the determination in the lad's tone. He doesn't think he'll lose twice huh? All the more reason to crush him. When the group of three is dropped off upon arrival at their destination, she places a hand on Aomine's shoulder before he can go find a spot to relax in the shade. Already she has taken off her track suit, revealing the black crop top and red shorts to go with their school colors. He raises a brow to her, which makes her smirk when she utters the words, "Keep your eyes on me, got it? Watch me and me alone. If you blink it'll be over". And then she lets him go.

Like the last race she had run in a few weeks back, Asei is the starter with Hanabusa being his goal. She is calm as she makes sure her muscles are loose and her body over all ready to go despite the excitement that threatens to make her shoulders and back stiff. She listens with eyes forward even as the large TV above head shows Asei running neck and neck with the young first year named Yagami Riku. The young man is slim and athletic looking, with a light complexion and pretty pinkish red eyes currently narrowed in determination. His semi-long blond hair has been tied back slightly to keep his bangs out of his face. It's impressive to hear that Asei is not pulling away from the little brother of Yagami Tomoe- the famed prodigy from Honan from two years ago. Tatsumaki can hear the calm voice of Yuji however releasing Hanabusa from his starting position. And then she hears the announcer proclaiming his surprise when Asei suddenly pulls away from Yagami rapidly and with apparently surprising ease.

This amuses her. There is a reason why Asei is always the starter and why Hanabusa is always the one with which he transitions. Though the Captain may not realize it, the fact that Tatsumaki did despite not being around the team often is saying something. Asei is in love with Hanabusa, madly even, and it would seem that his determination to bring Hanabusa victory allows him to become even faster at times. This is one of those times. The announcement of a beautiful transition rings around her, as however it would appear that Honan is not likely to give up soon, slowly but surely catching up to her Taicho. The second relation occurs, with Hanabusa slapping hands with Misoka whom takes off full speed as though launched from a cannon. Despite being against someone smaller and lighter than him, Tatsumaki knows that the redhead has the advantage. She listens as the commentators mention that he's using his larger mass to swing himself around the poles situated to fling him further along the path where as his opponent- a small feminine little thing named Hozumi Kohinata that has soft blond hair and big blue eyes- must push harder to keep up.

The third relation comes by, with Satoshi taking off like a rocket, his powerful legs launching him into immediate speed. With Misoka having regained their large lead of six and half seconds, Satoshi only makes it larger as he rushes against the third year runner prodigy named Kuga Kyosuke. The long haired tall senior however surprisingly has no chance. His long pinkish hair trailing behind him like a flag as he attempts to keep up with someone massively superior to him. Satoshi only has the goal of showing his dearest younger half brother just what true speed is. That mere friendship will get you nowhere, and that only one's own ability gets them further in the world let alone Stride. He bothers not to look over his shoulder for Kuga, knowing that his role model would be displeased if he were to accidentally slow down as a result. He hears Nobuyuki release the snow leopard from her cage. He can imagine the sight of the beast leaping forth with a powerful growl before using her powerful legs to rush her forward and to the position where they'll transition. His eyes widen when he does not see Fujiwara behind her. Are they that far ahead?

"You're ahead by one whole minute," Yuji's voice rings in his ear, surprising him.

Tatsumaki had taken off with a sonic boom, the air crashing from her lungs if only for a second before coming back to her. She leaves Satoshi's half brother in the dust, literally as she zips around a series of zig zagging corners and curves that attempt to trap her. She runs on the railing of a bridge, leaping to the other side of the stream when half way across, relishing in the sensation of a stable landing. A sneering grin nearly rips across her face as she continues forward, faster and faster. Her heart hammers in its cage but she ignores it knowing that it will recover rather soon. Crush them. Crush these people for thinking they can beat her! The only one who can beat her, is her, after all. And then, just like that, she crosses the finish line, coming to a steady halt as her shoulders heave and her lungs take in deep steady gasps. She looks up at the massive clock that's been situated to show the runners their time. The TV depicts the scowl that rests on her lips. It had been fun while she was doing it, but now that it's over she doesn't like that she won again.

Weak.

They were all so weak.

She ignores her team when they make to congratulate her for giving them a full minute and a half lead, making them win by nearly three minutes. Instead, she walks to somewhere where she can find solitude and mope. Still cursed. Damn it. She sits, her warm muscles thrumming with energy as she leans against the cool concrete of a near by building away from cheering people and a hurt Honan team. "The only one who can beat me is me," she drones with a disappointed smirk. What a shame. They had a prodigy and two with high potential and still lost.

"I won," she announces to the person who stands in front of her, looking down at her sitting frame.

Aomine nods, "You don't look happy about it". At least not any more.

"Of course not. I try a little and this is the result," she grumbles. Still, she looks up the blue eyed boy and questions, "So...What did you think?"

Aomine sits next to the girl, their arms brushing and shoulders touching though he cares not. The heat from her body is still wafting off of her, warming the flesh that connects with hers and further warming his person up- something he didn't know was possible. "You're a monster when it comes to Stride," he tells her blandly. "You remind me of me when I'm playing basketball". And it is now that he realizes that when they first met she was right. She was right all along; they're just like one another.

A sad smile spreads across her face, "I don't mean to be. I can't help it," she's certain he feels the same way. "Do you think I'll ever be freed of this curse?" At least someone is trying to free him; he's got Kuroko and Kagami. Her? She has no one.

Aomine looks slightly down to meet her emerald gaze, "Probably not. The one ones who can beat us is us. We're stuck like this".

"Ah," she drawls out, "What a sad life we live".

"Whatever. You hungry?"

"You know it".

Aomine stands to his feet and offers his hand to her. She doesn't hesitate to touch his palm with her own, allowing him to pull her to her feet with ease. They leave her team behind, determined to get something cool to eat. However as she attempts to pull her hand from his grasp, it tightens and holds her fast. He sees her glance at him, curious and confused. However he merely keeps his eyes forward, determined to hold her hand longer. When she pulls a second time, he pulls back, keeping her hand stationary. She tries a third time, but with no success. She does not try a forth time, instead curling her fingers around his own, giving him the win this time around.

Good. Because he doesn't plan to let her go.