"Akashi seems to be conferring with the coach. I don't like the look of this, Marv."

"You're right, Team USA is only up by five points. If Mibuchi keeps hitting those three-pointers, even Midorima is going to have a hard time keeping up with him if Akashi isn't at one hundred percent."

"No, they aren't going to swap him out yet. This may become a pivotal decision for Team USA. If Akashi is injured they should remove him from the game…"

POV Takao

Shin-chan was sitting of the balcony sipping a cup of tea when I came home. I kicked off my shoes and put on my slippers before opening the sliding door and joining him.

"How was your study group? Was there any progress?" he asked as I leaned over and kissed him. I slipped into the chair beside him.

"Somewhat. They need a lot of work, but it could be a whole lot worse. In fact," I hesitated. I didn't think Shin-chan would be open to the idea, but I'd promised the group I would at least talk to him about it, "the group asked if they could… come over and practice with us. You see their midterm is all about household and family words."

He stared at me and whatever was bothering him, it wasn't my request. He took a long sip and turned his eyes toward the skyline.

"When?"

"It would have to be this weekend."

"And I won't be required to speak English?" he asked.

"No, it would be more beneficial if you didn't."

"Alright, put it on the calendar when you figure out the particulars."

"Now, tell me what has you looking so melancholy on this beautiful evening," I asked. "Did something happen with Akashi, or the Olympic team?"

He put his cup down and leaned forward heavily onto the rail.

"I was told that I should hear from the front office today about my contract," he said.

"You didn't tell me."

"No, I didn't want to distract you. You were worried about the deadline for your thesis draft."

"Yeah, but it is only a draft. Your contract is your career and our life; I have a right to know."

"It's a fantastic paper. You should be proud of it," he said.

"I am, but this isn't about me. We're talking about you keeping secrets."

"You're right it's about us. What do you want to do if they don't renew my contract? Do you want to go back home?"

"We are home, silly Shin-chan. Wherever you and Akira are, that's home. Can we afford to stay here? Would you look for another team?"

"Yes, Akashi's investment app has tripled our money. We have options."

"I want to at least finish out the semester. Then we can decide. If you don't find a team you want to play for, then Aomine and Kagami can get you a try out for the national team. Don't you think?"

"But what about you? What do you want to do? What will you do if we go back to Japan?"

"Teach English," I shrugged.

"After working so hard to complete a degree to teach Japanese –" The cellphone sitting on the table between us began to ring. Shin-chan looked at the display and bit his lip.

"This is Midorima," he said and I was very proud of the crisp pronunciation. He listened for a while, nodding his head as the other person spoke. His emotional wall was up, the one he used to protect himself, and it made reading the conversation difficult.

"Yes, sir, I will come to the office first thing in the morning. Thank you for the opportunity."

He put the phone down and let go of the breath he'd held inside.

"What will you do if we can stay?" he asked.

"Teach Japanese," I smirked.

Akashi/Furihata

Akashi sat in the Midorima apartment on that uncomfortable chair as the makeup artist from NBC worked on removing all traces of weeks of sleepless nights from under his eyes. The Midorima family was out, leaving only Akashi and Furihata with the troupe of men and women dirtying the carpet with their outside shoes.

Furihata was already on the phone, trying to find a cleaning company that could work on short notice.

"No, I need it today, two hours, no more. I'm willing to pay extra," he said into one cell phone while answering a text on another.

A large bosomed blonde woman in a tight navy pant suit brushed by Furihata without a word and sunk into the arm chair across from Akashi.

"Seijūrō," she said, pronouncing his name as if she spoke Japanese fluently, "I'm Kristin Davis of NBC Sports, I'll be the one interviewing you today."

"…the Clippers had a disappointing season this year…," Davis said. It was her style to give open-ended statements and wait for the interviewee to agree or disagree. Akashi found it tiring. An hour into this ridiculous waste of time and still she has only asked two real questions, Akashi thought as he cracked his neck. He blinked and hoped the pain that was radiating up his spine wasn't visible on his face. I should have chosen a different chair for the interview.

"It wasn't an ideal season, you're right, but anything that isn't victory is an opportunity. I can't afford to dwell on defeat; it isn't helpful. I've learned some things about myself, and it is time to move on and think about the next game."

Akashi waited until the production assistant checked the tape.

"That was a good one, Seijūrō, but try to remember to speak in sound bites. Kristin, we're ready for the next question."

"…you're break up with French actress Maria Dedallime came as a shock to everyone. What happened?"

I thought we were here to talk about basketball, Akashi thought. My "love life" hardly seems to have any bearing on my ability to lead the United States basketball team to victory. He paused, as was his custom between questions and saw Furihata off to the side, drawing imaginary lines up his cheeks, reminding him to smile.

He'd practiced the sad smile in preparation for this question, but hadn't believed Furihata when he said she would ask it.

"Maria," he sighed and smiled that tight, wistful smile that showed a depth of feeling he'd never had for the woman. "She deserves better than my fractured attention. Right now, the most important thing in my life is basketball and bringing another gold medal home for my new country."

"That's a very lonely way to live," Kristin said and waited, hoping to draw more from him.

"I'm never alone. I have a manager who is closer than a brother, I have life-long friends, and I have a family who I know watches over me. Even without them, I have two magnificent teams – The Clippers and my Olympic teammates, both of whom have shown great support for me."

"You may have to play against some of your friends on the Team Japan, won't you? How does that make you feel?"

"This won't be the first time I've gone head to head with a friend on the court. I've played against Daiki, Atushi, Taiga –"

"Speaking of your old rival… Taiga Kagami, had the option of playing for the US Team, yet chose Japan. How does that make you feel?"

"I've only been on the same team as Taiga once – in a street ball exhibition against Team Jabberwock – but I respect him and I know that he will play as hard as he can. Players like that – real quality opponents – always bring out the best in me. Besides that, I'll have Shintarō with me. When the two of us are together, victory is within reach."

"Then you should shine on the Olympic court, given the high caliber teams you'll be facing this year."

Is that a questions? Akashi sighed. "I plan to do just that, Kristin. Team USA is working hard to bring home another gold medal."