It was another winter day here in California. I got used to the environment and my routine here: Wake up at 6am, prepare my things, go back to the hospital, talk to the doctor with Kagami's help regarding Kiyoshi's status, prepare food for Kiyoshi, stay until the wee hours of the night until Kiyoshi sleeps, go back home. It was hard, mostly because I haven't got any decent sleep, but hey.. it's alright. I'm glad Kiyoshi's recuperating well, and every time I could see the grin in his face, those tiring hours were worth it.

Everyone was helping us. Riko always remind me of what should I do. The Seirin team made a fundraiser for Kiyoshi. I was happy everyone was helping us, including our past competitors last Winter Cup. Though they were able to raise a few thousand dollars, unfortunately it wasn't enough to maintain all the medicine and the hospital bills. It's all thanks to Kagami and Alexandra for shouldering most of our expenses here while they were preparing for the next preliminaries.

I made my way to Kiyoshi's door, and looked at the sleeping prince on the hospital bed. I placed my bag at the corner of the side table and started to peel some apples for his breakfast. It was 8AM, and the temperature was colder than the winter that I had experienced in my country. After a few minutes, Kiyoshi woke up and looked at me, donning his oh-so-perfect grin.

"Good morning, dear." He spoke in a much energetic tone. I smiled at him and continued peeling the apples on his plate.

"Good morning, Kiyoshi. Breakfast will be served in a few." I informed him. He nodded and fixed himself until he was able to lean to the bedpost.

"Careful, Kiyoshi." My protective instinct kicked in as the latter struggled to fix his damaged knee. Placing the undone apples on the side table, I helped him relocate his injured leg.

"Thank you, Hyuuga.." He whispered. "If not for you, I may have damaged my knee again."

A chuckle escaped my lips as I came back to my chair. "Bakiyoshi, that's my job."

After peeling the fruits, I pulled my bag and grabbed Kagami's laptop. "Today is Video Call time. They are waiting right now, so better eat your food fast." I then placed it on the other side of the table.

Kiyoshi saluted. "Aye aye, captain."

I laughed. "Shut up."

"Neh..."

"Yes?"

"I love you."

I blushed at that point. He always knew how to throw those lines when I'm off guard. The Iron Heart, the protector of Seirin, throwing these mushy lines on his captain... That's disgusting. Well, not for me. It was one of the reasons my body was able to cope up sleepless nights. He knew how to make my heart beat faster than a bullet train.

"Shut up..." I whispered. "Someone might hear us."

"Ehhh? Like they would understand us." He pouted. "I love you, Hyuuga."

I glared at the glorious man whose still grin was etched on his face. This man... this man knows how to make someone fall in love with him with his words.

"Right.." I muttered. I arranged the food that was given by the hospital, adding the fruits that I bought in the grocery store and placed it on a tray. I then placed it on his lap. "Eat, Bakiyoshi."

A chuckle escaped Kiyoshi's lips as I served the food with a crimson face. "You are so cute, Hyuuga."

Just when would he stop saying these pick-up lines?

"If I were you, I would shove all the food that was given to me.." I raised two of my fingers and twitched it. "...by the one I love once he serves it."

Kiyoshi then looked at me with bewilderment. A few seconds passed and he grabbed the apples that I peeled for him and ate it in one gulp. He then grabbed the juice beside it and drank it. I stood up in shock. Was he doing what I just told him?

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING, KIYOSHI?" I roared in confusion. He then gazed at me with the same confusing look and gulped the remaining food that was stuffed on his mouth.

"Following the order that was given.." He then raised two of his fingers and mimicked what I did. "..by the one I love."

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

I could feel the anger and admiration mixing on my veins, circulating with my blood. I didn't know if I should be angry or admire this person's sense of humor. His wits was beyond comparison. It was beyond my comprehension, and the thought that I was not able to understand it gave a different flavor... a different reason why I was starting to fall for Kiyoshi.

A sigh released on my throat, a gesture of calming myself down... because at this point, I'm torn between smacking his head multiples times and ravishing his lips with mine just to shut him up. I bit my lower lip in annoyance. He was tearing my heart inside out, and I knew that it was a good thing, because I could feel the sincerity wrapped with his words and actions. I was starting to follow his selfish requests. I was slowly succumbing to his playful grin.

"You dumb fuck! Stop spitting those mushy words! You fucking ann-"

I felt a sudden force pulling me near Kiyoshi. Damn this large, warm hand! I found myself on Kiyoshi's face, two centimeters away from his lips, feeling his breath caressing my lips.

"I fucking annoy you, Hyuuga?" He spoke with so much lust written on his eyes. It felt like he was stripping me with those gaze. My resistance started to melt like ice in summer. My eyes widened as he licked the edges of my lips, tasting it like a kid eating ice cream. My knees shook. It felt like I was standing in the epicenter of a Magnitude 9 earthquake. My hand gripped Kiyoshi's arm for support. I was hyperventilating. My world shook with that just one gesture. He was teasing me, I know. He always teased me but this form of tease wanted my brain to stop.

"A-aah.." I panted as the latter's tongue touched the opening on my mouth. He was literally making me yearn for more. I could feel blood circulating freely on my face. "K-Kiyo.."

"..shi." He continued as he grabbed my collar and looked me straight into my irises. "Your Iron Heart. Your soon-to-be-boyfriend. Yours." He whispered in such a lustful tone.

He then released the grip on my collar and continued eating. I literally fell on my knees. Was it a declaration of ownership? I could feel my hands literally shaking. Goosebumps were all over my body. I could still hear those words in my head like it was a resonating song.

"Kiyoshi... Your Iron Heart... Your soon-to-be-boyfriend... Yours."

"Mine..." I muttered to myself. I then curled up myself and literally rolled under Kiyoshi's bed. Upon seeing a soft spot, I punched it real hard, rattling Kiyoshi.

"Whaaa!" Kiyoshi shouted. "What are you doing?!"

I couldn't answer him. I don't want another teasing from him. I don't want to show my reddening face, or else he would do the same thing again.

~bakahiroki~

"Kiyoshi! How are you?" An emotional Riko welcomed us in the Video Call that I initiated just now. Everyone from the Seirin team was staying in Kagami's house for a sleepover, and they took the opportunity of asking me to call them through the internet. Since I didn't know how to do it, I asked Kagami how. Luckily, with all the trial and error, I was able to create an overseas call online.

The call began to be filled with emotions as I saw them almost in tears upon seeing Kiyoshi. I fixed the laptop and sat beside the injured man.

Kiyoshi looked at the screen, beaming with happiness. It was the first time in months that we saw our friends and teammates. A wave- "Hello guys! I'm good." He then twitched his eyebrows. "Where's Kuroko?"

"I'm here."

The whole team jumped on to their places as Kuroko showed up. Even Kiyoshi almost had a heart attack upon seeing the blue-haired phantom. I giggled at the scene.

"Kuroko!" Kagami roared. "You should tell us if you're gonna show up!"

"I've been here all the time." Kuroko spoke in a calm manner, oblivious of the outburst of reactions his team showed. After a few seconds, they laughed. I stood up from my seat and grabbed the dirty dishes on the table.

"Hyuuga, where are you going?" The Iron Heart asked.

"I'm going to clean the plates. You enjoy talking to them, okay?" I answered. I then took the plates and upon seeing Kiyoshi's nod on my peripheral vision, I made my exit on the hospital room.

Everything was going smoothly. His therapy was effective, as expected from the technology here in the US. Tomorrow, we would try to make steps. I got excited by the thought that he would be able to walk now. After washing the plates, I immediately returned to the room, only to be interrupted by a sudden chattering of the nurses outside Kiyoshi's room.

"Hey, look at the Japanese guy on Room 169-B." One of the nurses spoke. After peeking on Kiyoshi's door, she averted her gaze on her comrade, silently squealing. "He's cute!"

"I heard he was one of the members of Japan's basketball team. With that kind of charisma, I'll definitely drop my panties in front of him!" The other said.

"True!" Nurse A clapped her hands. "He's my crush!"

Cute? Panties? Crush?

I wasn't good at understanding English, but I knew with the key words I heard that they wanted to flirt with Kiyoshi. Of all people here in the US, why were they focusing on Kiyoshi? I gripped the tray and made my way to Kiyoshi's room, ignoring the nurses. Faking a smile, I faced the nurses.

"E-Excuse me." I muttered and entered the room. I then slammed the door and returned the plates to his table. The nurses rattled and almost ran off Kiyoshi's door. Kiyoshi then looked at me, scanning the sudden change of my mood.

"What's wrong?"

I averted my gaze. "Nothing. Are you done talking to them?"

He nodded. "They said they missed me so much."

"Glad to hear." I retorted.

I returned to my seat and opened an application on my phone to calm myself down. I didn't want to let Kiyoshi know that I'm starting to get jealous. After a few minutes of silence, I looked at Kiyoshi, whose gaze were fixed on mine.

"What?" I roared.

Kiyoshi looked at me. "I just want some help regarding the straps on my cast."

I sighed. I was starting to release all the frustration to the poor guy. Placing the phone on the chair, I went near Kiyoshi. My world shook when he pulled my nape and nibbled my lips. My hand subconsciously placed on his crotch, and man… he was rock hard. I could feel my nerves pop like fireworks. Of all the stupid things that I did, this one was the best stupid move he did.

"A-ah..." I whispered. I looked at him, but he fixed his gaze on my hand freely touching his hard member. I immediately pulled my hand back, only to be returned by Kiyoshi's free hand. My soul escaped my body when I looked at him. His smirk was… different.

"Heh." He chuckled devilishly. "You're cute."

"SHUT UP, KIYOSHI!" I pulled my hand back and sprinted out of the room. I then leaned my back on the wall. He was testing me. HE WAS REALLY TESTING MY ENDURANCE! What made it worse is.. mine responded quickly. I removed my glasses with my shaking hand, and wiped the cold sweat off it. It was winter, but what happened just now was pure hell.

Holy smokes. This is different. I am not ready for this!

[A/N] Hello! :D Thank you for reading Hearts Over Winter Snow.

Just to set your expectations, this is only a short one. I'm glad my views reached 127 already. Hell yeah~

And another thing, there's a scene that is rated T (Imo). Hurrdurr because I'm a derp puppy. LOL

Thanks to CrimsonPearlAlice for placing reviews every chapter! ^_^ I'm glad you really like it, even though it's not that good /cries in the corner

Also, please shoot a review! Pleaase~~