Merry Christmas!

Kuroko no Basuke is copyrighted by Fujimaki Tadatoshi-sensei. Give him the best regards for creating this great manga!

The OCs are mine.

Warning: Akashi x OC. Later on it will be Midorima x OC, but the main story is focused on Akashi.

Alluring Gaze

Chapter 14

Good Luck

It is the final day of Winter Cup; the final match which determines the winner from the opposing teams - Rakuzan High versus Seirin High. The match will start at 5.30 p.m.

"You are going to watch the final match, Takano-san?" in the hotel's lobby, Takano called Sakuya and the two girls talked for a while. It was still morning. The short-haired girl mentioned that she will watch the match today.

"Yup! The others are coming along, too!" Takano said, mentioning Yuzume and Katagiri. "It will start at 5.30 p.m., right?"

"Yes."

"Then, when we get there, let's go watch it- Ups!" Takano cut her words. "I forgot. You are the manager, so you must be with your team all day, huh?"

Sakuya can hear her friend's sigh. She smiled to her reaction. "I'm sorry about that. It is my duty to be with my team until the end of the match. I guess you can watch it with Yuzume-san and Katagiri-san without me."

"Aw, that's too bad!" Takano pouted from the other line. "Well, it's going to be your last day to be their manager, so never mind! Do your best being their manager, Sakuya-chan!"

"I'll do my best."

"By the way, have you in any case met your childhood friend, Sakuya-chan?"

Sakuya blinked hearing that question. "I did," she replied. "Yesterday."

"REALLY?!" Takano exclaimed happily. Her squeal almost made Sakuya's ear deaf. Sakuya preached her for being too loud. "Oh, sorry. But you finally met him! I'm so happy for you, Sakuya-chan!"

Sakuya only sighed at her friend's excitement. "Thank you, Takano-san."

Takano giggled. "So, what is Ryouhei like? I bet he changed so much to be more mature, huh?"

Sakuya pondered for a while; remembering Midorima's features. The man keeps his dark green hair short and parted to the left. The color of his eyes is light green. He still wears his old and favorite black-rimmed glasses back from elementary school. He is taller and bigger than Sakuya knows him before; 25 cm taller than her. Sakuya also notices that Midorima always bandages his left fingers outside of matches and she hasn't asked him why he does that. And since Akashi aready told her about his superstitious personality, she knows Midorima loves to watch Oha Asa every morning and brings his lucky item of the day everywhere.

"You're right, Takano-san," Sakuya finally responded after she tried to remember her childhood friend's appearance. "He has changed to be more mature and gentlemanly. He is taller than me now, and he still has those beautiful eyes of his. He is also handsome, too."

Takano squealed again, making Sakuya sighed at her antics. "Uh! I wanna see his photo! Do you have it, Sakuya-chan? I wanna see it, please!"

"About that…" Sakuya trailed off for a second. "Actually, you can find his photo in a sport magazine, especially concerning basketball."

"Huh? You mean 'Basketball Monthly'?"

"Yes"

"Wait. But why there? Is Ryouhei playing basketball and got famous and so he is enlisted in the magazine?"

"I guess so," Sakuya thought for a while. "He is actually one of the Generation of Miracles you once mentioned to me, Takano-san."

"Oh, so that's why- EEEEHHHHHH?!" Takano was shocked to hear that and screamed on the phone. Her voice almost made Sakuya deaf. Before Sakuya preached her, Takano cut in. "B-b-b-b-b-but, there is none of the Generation of Miracles who has the name 'Ryouhei'!"

"I know. His actual name is Midorima Shintarou," Sakuya explained further, making Takano gasped.

"Wait, Midorima Shintarou? MIDORIMA SHINTAROU?!" Takano couldn't believe what she had heard. "W-what is going on here?! Ryouhei is Midorima Shintarou?! He is from the Generation of Miracles?! T-this is… so confusing!"

Sakuya leaned her phone away from her ear before Takano screamed again. After a while, she put the phone on her ear again and preached Takano for being too loud so much. "I know this is confusing. I will tell you the details when we meet at the gymnasium later. I am going to watch Shintarou-kun's match first at 4 p.m., so you can join me along there."

"His match is at 4 p.m.? We can't make it however…" Takano whined. The school ends at 3 p.m. and it took about two to three hours to make it to Tokyo by train. "Maybe we could make it, but only around the third or fourth round. Or maybe it already finished by the time we arrived there."

"I guess you can't watch his match, then," Sakuya remarked. "It's okay. I'll explain it to you after the final match."

"Then, we can grab something along. Like having a dinner at a nearby restaurant?" Takano suggested. "Oh, is there Maji Burger near there?"

"Maji Burger…" Sakuya tried to remember the places around the gymnasium, but she couldn't remember any Maji Burger near it. Her hometown has changed a lot so she couldn't remember. "I apologize. I don't remember seeing Maji Burger around there. Tokyo has changed a lot and some places change."

"That's too bad, then." Someone from the other line called Takano's name to hurry back to the class. Sakuya thought it was Yuzume calling Takano. "I think I should go back, Sakuya-chan. I'll see you later at Tokyo! Take care, girl!"

"Alright then. Please keep your attention at the class later too, Takano-san."

Takano pouted after hearing that. "Don't worry! Bye, Sakuya-chan!" and the girl hanged up. Sakuya put back her phone inside her pocket, before she remembered something again. She stared at her phone and browsed for someone's contact.

"I haven't used this contact, yet." When Sakuya found the desired number, she wrote a message to that number and pressed send after she finished. She put back the phone inside her pocket afterwards. "This is still in school hour, so calling is forbidden. I'll wait the reply in the afternoon."

Sakuya stood up from the sofa and decided to go back to her room in the eighth floor. She doesn't have anything to do at the moment, so she thought she will just read the book she had brought along with her in the first day of her stay. She went to the lift and pressed the button; waiting. Not for a while, the lift came and when it opened, she saw Mibuchi and Mayuzumi inside there.

Being the polite girl as she is, Sakuya greeted her upperclassmen. "Good morn-"

"SA-CHAN!" her words got cut by Mibuchi who immediately rushed to her and hugged her tightly. The black-haired man cried comically while embracing her. "I finally found you! Where have you been this morning?!"

"Reo-senpai?" Sakuya got confused with Mibuchi's reaction. The man was like relieved when he saw her. What happened?

"Mibuchi was worried," Mayuzumi explained when the girl looked up to Mayuzumi; asking for explanation. "You were suddenly gone this morning and everyone was in big shock. We thought you were kidnapped."

Sakuya blinked. "I am here from the morning," she said to her upperclassmen. "But the 'kidnapped' part is too unrealistic. Something like that won't happen here."

"Well, both Akashi and Mibuchi tried to contact you, but it always said you were busy. That's why," Mayuzumi looked to Mibuchi who is still hugging Sakuya. "The one who speculated you were kidnapped was Mibuchi."

Hearing that, Sakuya only sighed but smiled afterwards. She patted Mibuchi's back a few times; calming the man down. "I apologize for making you worried, Reo-senpai. I am alright. You can rest assure now."

Mibuchi nodded vigorously to her. "I'm so glad you are okay, Sa-chan!" he exclaimed. Mibuchi tightened his embrace more; don't want to let Sakuya go. "I was so afraid when you were gone! I'm afraid some kind of jerk hurt you!"

"I think I should have told the others that I was going to the lobby to relax…" Sakuya lamented in her mind while rubbing Mibuchi's back gently. To think that her team would freak out with her whereabouts, she couldn't have thought something like this will happen. Shirogane's influence must have been affecting them, because the aged man already warned them to keep their eyes on Sakuya anytime. "Where are the others, Chihiro-senpai?" she asked Mayuzumi.

"They are still searching for you," he said and grabbed his phone to call his teammates. "I will give them a call that you are found."

Sakuya nodded to him. "Oh. How about Shirogane-sensei?"

"Akashi told us not to tell the coach about this," Mayuzumi replied, which Sakuya was relieved Shirogane didn't know about this uproar. If he knows, he will punish his team. The grey-haired man called his teammates and flipped his phone after he was done calling them all. "Akashi said he wanted to talk to you when we get back to the eighth floor," Mayuzumi told Sakuya. The girl sighed at that.

"Why is everyone so worried about me? I can take care of myself," she muttered under her breath.

"Because you are so cute, Sa-chan! People can't resist your cuteness!" Mibuchi retorted after he released his embrace from Sakuya. Mayuzumi only sweated at Mibuchi's unreasonable answer.

"I think it's because you are stubborn sometimes, Sakuya-san," Mayuzumi commented, earned a thoughtful look from the said girl. "I'm not saying you are weak. It's just that you do something that is not beyond your grasp. We can't help but want to watch over you."

"You are just like our own little sister, Sa-chan," Mibuchi smiled brightly to Sakuya. "Well, my own little sister and my love, too!"

Mayuzumi only sighed at Mibuchi's blunt remark, but he also smiled. "I guess I can agree with the 'little sister' part, though."

Sakuya, who heard that, smiled back to Mayuzumi. The three then went inside the lift to meet up with the others at the eighth floor.

"Where are you going, Sakuya?"

Sakuya stopped her tracks when Akashi called her name. The two are having lunch at Maji Burger near their hotel before going to the gymnasium to watch the women's matches as Akashi offered her because the girl didn't have anything to do until their final match. Well, the redhead knows Sakuya wants to watch Midorima's match, too, so he also used that reason to be with her for the rest of the day. Due to the uproar this morning, he demanded himself to put his eyes on Sakuya and be with the brown-haired girl wherever she goes. Sakuya was rejected him at first; saying she will be fine by her own. But because she doesn't want Mibuchi freaked out again, she decided to let Akashi accompanies her for today.

"I want to get the tomato sauce," Sakuya replied monotonously as she pointed her finger to the sauce pump. She had the small container to put the tomato sauce later in her hand.

"Wait here." Akashi stood up from his seat and took Sakuya's container after excusing himself. "I will get it for you."

"But I can get it myself…" Sakuya muttered. Akashi chuckled at her and left to get the tomato sauce. Feeling defeated, Sakuya can only sit on the sofa while thinking why every small little things she wants to do must be done by Akashi. She can do it herself, for God's sake.

A ringing tune rang once. It was her phone; she got a text message. Sakuya opened her sling bag she always brings everywhere and took out her phone. When she opened the message, her harlequin eyes widened.

From : Shintarou-kun

Subject : Re: My Number

Can I call you? That's only if you are not busy.

Sakuya smiled after she regained her composure. Earlier, she sent a message to Midorima's number telling him about her number. But now the man replied her and asking her if he can call her, although his tsundere side shows in the last sentence. She immediately replied his message telling him that he can call her.

"Here's your sauce," not for a while, Akashi came back with the tomato sauce. Sakuya thanked him and the two were going to consume their meal, until Sakuya's phone had rung. Sakuya took out her phone again only to find Midorima is calling her right after she sent her reply.

"Excuse me, Akashi-san," Sakuya looked to the bewildered Akashi. "Could you let me go somewhere quieter to talk?" she asked politely like always.

"Is it important?" Akashi asked back to make sure. Usually the girl just answers her phone and talks even when he is with her. This time, Sakuya needs privacy.

"It's not really important, but I want to talk with Shintarou-kun," she answered honestly, making Akashi rolled his eyes.

"So that's why…" Akashi sighed. It's about Midorima, so of course the girl needs to be alone. "Don't go too far from my reach," he reminded while allowing her to excuse herself. Sakuya's face brightened when she heard that. She smiled to Akashi and said her gratitude to him before going to somewhere quieter but not too far from Akashi's place. She decided to go to the small garden located outside Maji Burger and sat on the bench.

Sakuya pressed the button and put her phone on her ear. "Hello."

A grumpy voice could be heard from the other line. "What took you so long to pick up the call?"

Sakuya smiled at Midorima's tsundere attitude. "I apologize for making you wait, Shintarou-kun. I must excuse myself to Akashi-san so I can talk to you privately."

"Akashi?" Midorima was silence for a second. "You are with him?"

"Yes. We are having our lunch at Maji Burger right now."

"…Only the two of you?"

"Yes. The others are still in the hotel."

Midorima was silence for a second until he sighed. "He is always with you, huh?"

Sakuya blinked at that statement. "Not really. He is accompanying me due to a small incident back at the hotel, so Akashi-san decided to keep an eye on me."

"Incident?" Midorima's voice rose when he heard the word 'incident' from Sakuya. The greenhead is really sensitive when something happened to his childhood friend.

Noticing the sudden change in her friend's tone, Sakuya decided to ease his worries. "Do not worry, Shintarou-kun. It was a misunderstanding and I made everyone worried, that's why Akashi-san decided to keep an eye on me."

"I thought you were…" Midorima said as he took deep breaths. "Doesn't matter. As long as you are fine."

Sakuya giggled. "Shintarou-kun, where are you right now?"

"I'm still at school. We will go straight to the gymnasium after school."

"I see. I'm going to watch your match with Akashi-san later. Do your best, Shintarou-kun."

There was a slight pause. "…Yeah, thank-" when Midorima wanted to continue, his speech was interrupted by Takao's cheerful voice. "Shin-chan! So this is where you are!" Takao's voice can be heard in the background. "You suddenly dashed out when the bell rang! I thought you were going to the restroom so-"

"Shut up, Takao," Midorima silenced Takao with his stern voice. "I am talking right now."

"Is that Takao-san?" Sakuya asked Midorima, which the guy hummed in reply.

"Who are you talking to, Shin-chan?" feeling curious, Takao grabbed Midorima's hand and saw his phone's monitor. When he read the name, Takao whistled. "So that's why you were such in a hurry~"

"What are you doing?" Midorima leaned his hand from Takao's grip and took few steps away from the hawk-eye-user. Before the greenhead said sorry to Sakuya, Takao suddenly snatched his green phone away and greeted Sakuya. "Hello, Urenomiya!"

Sakuya blinked when she heard Takao's voice suddenly took place. But being a polite girl as she is, she greeted him back. "Good afternoon, Takao-san."

Takao chuckled when he heard her low, monotone voice. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yes. What is it?"

"Did you send a message to Shin-chan in the morning?"

Sakuya blinked again. How did Takao know that? "Yes, I did."

"I knew it!" Takao exclaimed happily. "You know what? Shin-chan was flustered when he got a message from you! He got yelled by our teacher when he suddenly stood up from his chair and shocking everyone in our lesson time!"

"Shintarou-kun did?" Sakuya was a bit surprised hearing that.

"Yeah! It was hilarious! I got shocked too when he did that, but I guess I can know the reason why! It's because you who we are talking about!"

"Me?"

"Huh? You don't know? Shin-chan was like that because he lik-" Takao's speech was interrupted when Midorima snatched the phone from his hand by force and took over.

"Do not mind him, Sakuya. He has a big mouth," Midorima said, earning a pout from Takao. "About that… just forget about it. It's not a big deal."

"Are you sure? I heard from Takao-san you got yelled by your teacher because you received my message?" Sakuya asked worriedly. The girl doesn't like people get blamed because of her.

"I said it's not a big deal. You're not the one at fault," Midorima assured her. "I think I shouldn't hold you any longer. You should go back to Akashi."

Sakuya took a peek from the glass window to see Akashi is still sitting on his spot and not eating his meal. He is waiting patiently for her to finish talking with Midorima. "I guess I should. See you at the gymnasium later, Shintarou-kun."

Midorima hummed in reply. "Take care of yourself, Sakuya. And…" he trailed off for a while, finding the right words. "I-I will be waiting for you to c-cheer on me…" he said stuttered.

"Of course. Good afternoon, Shintarou-kun."

"Good afternoon, Sakuya," and Midorima ended the call. When he put his green phone inside his pocket, Takao bumped him from behind and made him almost stumbled. Midorima glared at Takao for doing that. "What are you doing?"

"Don't mind me~ I think I can tease you more, involving someone important of Shin-chan~" Takao remarked playfully. "I just can't believe it, though. Shin-chan is more tsundere if it involves his feeling. How cute~"

"What are you talking about? You don't make any sense, Takao," Midorima said as he fixed his glasses. "And don't you dare snatch my phone again."

"Uh, I'm scared!" Takao retorted jokingly as he hugged himself and acted like he was afraid. "Don't be so mean like that, Shin-chan. Anyway, I was just helping you confess."

"Confess?"

"Come on! You like Urenomiya, right?" Takao exclaimed, making Midorima's shoulders tensed. "See? I knew it! That's why I wanted to help you!"

"Stop doing whatever you want, Takao. Just having a big mouth is enough for me to handle," Midorima demanded. "…And I shouldn't let you get too close with Meiko."

"EH?! Why?"

"Because she will blabber what I don't want you to know." Midorima then went to the rooftop's door. "I'm going."

Takao sighed in disappointment. "As tsundere as ever, Shin-chan. But don't worry! I will be your buddy if you ever need help in love!"

"…I don't need that." Both Midorima and Takao went back inside the school building to get their lunch.

As for Sakuya, she went back inside Maji Burger and took her seat the opposite of Akashi. "I apologize for making you wait," she said to Akashi who nodded to her. "Actually, you don't need to wait for me, Akashi-san. You can eat your lunch without me."

"There is no way I can do that," Akashi remarked proudly. "After all, I know you won't take too much time talking with Shintarou, despite both of your personality."

Sakuya stared at Akashi thoughtfully. "You are too full of yourself again, Akashi-san."

Akashi chuckled at her. He started eating his burger and Sakuya followed his suit; drinking her vanilla shakes. The redhead observed how Sakuya drinks her beverage. Her behavior sure similar like how Kuroko drinks his favorite vanilla shakes. "You are like Tetsuya, Sakuya," Akashi retorted, making Sakuya blinked. "Kuroko Tetsuya, the one you met when we had ten minutes interval."

"Kuroko… san?" Sakuya tried to remember the people from Seirin she met back then. "Um, which one is it?"

"The one with light-blue hair and eyes. He is shorter than me," Akashi told Sakuya the phantom man's appearance. However, Sakuya seemed still can't pinpoint the said man. "Still can't figure him out? Tetsuya has the reputation of our phantom sixth man for nothing, after all."

"Could you show me the one named Kuroko-san later?" Sakuya asked politely, earning a nod from Akashi. "Thank you very much. I am very eager to meet Kuroko-san face-to-face."

"I bet it will be interesting," Akashi said amusingly. "Speaking of which, what did you and Shintarou talk about?"

Sakuya thought for a while. Truth to be speaking, she actually didn't talk much with Midorima. The guy just wanted to check her and Takao suddenly barged in, much to Midorima's dismay. "He just wanted to check on me. Takao-san also talked to me for a while." The mention of Takao's name made Akashi blinked. "I said to him that I will watch his match later with you, Akashi-san."

Akashi nodded at that. "As expected from Shintarou," he mused. "He really is not well expressing what he wanted to say."

"Shintarou-kun is really a tsundere," Sakuya agreed with Akashi. "But that what makes me really like him so much."

Akashi rolled his eyes when he heard that. He crossed his arms and smirked. "Like him? In what context?"

"Context?" Sakuya tilted her head in confusion. "I just like him very much."

"No. What I mean is how you like Shintarou," Akashi explained. "As a friend or as a man."

That question sure struck Sakuya. For the girl, she likes those who are precious for her. She never distinguishes it like that; a friend or a person. But when Akashi brought that topic out, she realizes she has no clues what she thinks of Midorima. She said it herself that she likes the greenhead, but in what context?

Because she likes Midorima as a friend, but she thinks of him more than that…

"Shintarou-kun is a very important person for me," Sakuya told Akashi with her unwavering eyes. "I like him much more than before."

"So it means… as a man?"

"I think it's both?"

Akashi only chuckled at her answer. "You don't know?"

"I think…" Sakuya rubbed her chin. "I can't decide. I like Shintarou-kun as a friend, indeed. But I think of him more than that."

"I see," Akashi chuckled. "Then, how about me?"

Without much thought, Sakuya answered Akashi. "I like you as a friend, Akashi-san."

Hearing her answer, Akashi smiled at the brown-haired girl. "I see," he said in understanding. "Let's continue our lunch."

Sakuya nodded at him and the two continue their own meal. While eating his burger, Akashi sometimes took a glance at Sakuya to make sure she finishes her own burger. But there is something within him that keeps nagging. After he heard Sakuya's answers about her thoughts of her childhood friend and how she likes him and himself, for the first time in his life,

He feels that it will be pleasant to be in Midorima's position.

However, he knows that it won't happen.

It's just that when he saw the girl told her honest remark with those harlequin eyes, he didn't like it at all. He didn't like how Sakuya thinks of Midorima with that smile of hers, that warm gaze of hers, that lovely gesture of hers. All that concern about Midorima annoys him, especially if it's coming from his official friend.

But he also hates himself for thinking that way. He hates it too when Sakuya said she liked him as a friend, he was hoping for something more than that. More than being a friend.

Just what it is that he is expecting?

It's strange. He still doesn't know the answer. But one thing for sure, he only wants Sakuya. Only that impassive, polite girl with dignity that he wants. He wants her to be with him. He wants her to think more of him. He wants her to show that brilliant smile to him more.

He wants her to look at him only.

"I am so selfish," Akashi muttered under his breath, noticed by Sakuya. The redhead stared to her harlequin eyes for a long time with no words. He tried to find something within those eyes which always stun him in Sakuya's unusual way. But alas, he can't find it. It is still buried deep down and shadowed. Or is it because he just can't see it at all?

"What's wrong, Akashi-san?" Sakuya asked worriedly. The redhead was being silence while staring at her eyes very long. She lifted her hand to touch Akashi's forehead, worried that he might have a fever. "Are you okay?"

Sakuya's light touch brought Akashi to his sense. He just realized he was staring at the girl's eyes without saying anything, thus making her worried. "I'm alright, Sakuya," he assured her.

"I see," Sakuya said in relief. When she wanted to lower her hand, Akashi grabbed her wrist. "Akashi-san?"

"Sakuya," Akashi put her palm on his cheek. "I am very selfish," he said with his eyes narrowed. "When you touch me with this hand, I can't help but wanting to feel the sensation you give within your touch more. More and more until I get bored by it. I don't know why, but it comforts me."

Heterochromatic eyes stared to harlequin eyes once more. "And what makes me very selfish is that I want to be the only person to receive this touch of yours," he said while tightening his grip on her fragile hand. "Only me, not even Reo or Shintarou. Just me and me alone."

Sakuya was quite taken aback with Akashi's blunt remark. What just happened so suddenly with Akashi? However, she quickly regained her composure and so let Akashi feels her touch and muttered, "That is indeed very selfish."

Akashi chuckled with her calm reply. "What will you do to handle this selfish man, then?"

Instead of answering, Sakuya only smiled at Akashi. Her meaningful smile can't be deciphered even by Akashi. The redhead was quite disappointed that he can't understand the meaning behind her smile, but decided to find it out some time. He let go of Sakuya's hand so the girl can finish her meal.

"Ah, by the way, Akashi-san," Sakuya voiced out to gain Akashi's attention. "Please use honorific when addressing Reo-senpai."

Akashi chuckled again at that. "I wonder why you don't get tired preaching me about that."

"Maybe I already get used to it," Sakuya deadpanned. "I also wonder why you don't take my words seriously."

"It's just like you," Akashi remarked while he sipped his beverage. "I am used to it."

Sakuya only shook her head at Akashi's reply. She wonders when she can make the redhead not to be rude to his upperclassmen.

It is Kaijo High versus Shuutoku High. Akashi and Sakuya took their seat to watch the match for the third place. The other members of Rakuzan were somewhere else due to Akashi's order that he and Sakuya will watch the match together and will catch up on them if the ten minutes interval begins. From the start, it quickly became completely a one-sided match. The reason for this was Kise's absence, due to his leg injury. A Kaijo without Kise could not do a thing to stop Midorima.

"Practically, Kaijo can't stand a chance against Shuutoku. Without Ryouta in the team, Kaijo is nothing," Akashi mused while watching the ongoing third place match.

"However, they don't give up," Sakuya said to Akashi, earning a thoughtful look from the redhead. "Kaijo is continuing to play to pull out all the stops, and judging by how Shuutoku responds their will to fight, they are also not giving Kaijo an inch."

"You are right," Akashi agreed with Sakuya. "They must be respected for that; both of them."

Sakuya nodded and the two saw Midorima shot another three-pointer for his team. "Shintarou-kun's shooting form is beautiful every time I watch it."

"Is that so?" Akashi mused.

"Your Emperor Eye is also amazing," Sakuya added again, making Akashi chuckled at her honest compliment. He patted her head in return.

"I also must say your honest compliment is endearing also, Sakuya."

Sakuya blinked at that. Akashi then stood up from his seat and told Sakuya that they are going to catch up with their teammates to warm up in the ten minutes interval later. Sakuya nodded at him and the two left their seat. While walking to their locker room downstairs, Sakuya saw the result for the first half; 28 – 49 to Shuutoku side.

After both teams exited the court, Rakuzan and Seirin came out with their own shirt to start their warm up. Sakuya watched her team not too far from them doing layup practice altogether in half of the court, while Seirin occupied the other half. With a note in her hand, she wrote up any changes in each of the members of Rakuzan.

"All of them have done the layup very good," Sakuya thought while watching her seniors did the layup successfully. "Just watching it makes me trembled. The immeasurable practice does worth it."

Suddenly, Nebuya burped very loud and long. Mibuchi pissed at the dark-skinned man for being rude. "Just how much did you eat today?! That burp was so damn long!" A tick mark appeared on his head. "That's the longest burp you've ever made!"

"Oh, I had the max I could eat today!" Nebuya exclaimed, not feeling bothered by it. "After all," he smirked. "My match-up today is Kiyoshi, right? It's because our fates are connected," Nebuya showed his muscular arm to Mibuchi. "My strength is already beginning to swell!"

Mibuchi only sighed at Nebuya's behavior. Well, it doesn't matter for him. As long as Nebuya is focused into his own battle, he can't complain.

Suddenly, Sakuya approached Nebuya and poked his tummy, which happened to be his ticklish point. Nebuya shocked from receiving the sudden attack from the impassive girl and distanced himself. "W-whoa! What are you doing?!" Nebuya snapped to the usual expressionless girl while rubbing his tummy.

"You are being rude, Nebuya-senpai. Please do not burp so loudly like that," she stated monotonously. Her action sure made the others tried to hold their laugh. Not for Hayama, however. He burst out laughing while hugging his stomach. Tears are coming to his eyes.

"What the hell. Just leave me al-" before Nebuya finished his speech, he caught the dark aura coming from behind him. It was Mibuchi, who is ready to kill him if the big guy tried to be rude to his favorite girl. Nebuya sweated at that. "A-alright… sorry."

Sakuya nodded at him in understanding and moved to another player to check on them. After the girl was away and Mibuchi didn't give off his killing intent to Nebuya, the big guy hurriedly took his leave. Hayama approached Mibuchi after the black-haired man calmed himself down. "What about you, Reo-nee?" he asked, pointing about Mibuchi's opponent later.

"Hyuuga Junpei. Didn't you watch the video of Seirin with me?" Mibuchi sighed, but later smiled sweetly. "Even though he's emo and not my type, I'll be sure to show him lots of love~" he said with confidence, making Hyuuga on the other side suddenly shuddered. "But of course, it's not that much than my love to Sa-chan~"

Hayama only sweated at Mibuchi. "He said so himself he's not his type, but still saying he loves Urenomiya more. What is he, a bi?"

"Anyway, shouldn't you be a lot more worried? You're the one marking Kagami," Mibuchi remarked.

Hayama's face then brightened. Mibuchi can see sparkles around the orange-haired guy. "Yep! It totally sucks! I'll figure it out! Right, Mr. Thin Eyebrows?" Hayama exclaimed while glancing to Mayuzumi, who only ignored him in the end.

"As usual, you're not being serious enough. Do you even understand the situation we are in?" Mibuchi sighed at Hayama's carefree behavior.

The ball in Hayama's hands before was on the orange-haired guy's head. Hayama tried to balance the ball on his head so it won't fall. "I said I got it!" he said to Mibuchi. However, he failed to make the ball stayed long on his head, thus it fell down. But before it does so, Hayama's expression changed like a predator. He grinned to Mibuchi while muttering, "I just need to destroy Seirin, right?"

Mibuchi observed Hayama thoughtfully. "…I guess you'll be fine, then," he concluded. "However," suddenly Mibuchi covered Hayama's face with his hand. "Refrain from showing that kind of face in front of Sa-chan!"

"Wha- Of course not! I won't show this kind of face to a girl!" Hayama defended himself.

Sakuya, who was with Akashi, saw Hayama and Mibuchi's commotion from afar. "What happened with Hayama-senpai?" she asked Akashi, who only gave her a shook.

"Do not worry about him. Reo can handle him," Akashi said, leaving Sakuya confused.

Nebuya then approached Akashi. "Akashi, you'll be coming out from the start today, right?" he asked, which earned a nod from the redhead.

"Those guys are strong. I can't let myself get careless. However, I am absolute. And therefore," he looked to his teammates with his determined gaze. "The winner will be Rakuzan. Our basketball is absolute."

"I doubt it," and as usual, Sakuya countered Akashi's proud remark. "I, too, want our team to win. But that doesn't mean we can hold our head too high just because we are The Emperor of Creation." Her harlequin eyes observed her team's appearance one by one thoughtfully. "All I can say is to wait for the outcome of the final match. You won't know something will happen unless you try." As her last remark, she smiled to the team. For those who haven't seen Sakuya smiled, they were in awe with how bright the girl smiled slightly just like that. "Please do your best later. Also, good luck."

"Aw, SA-CHAN~" Mibuchi approached Sakuya and hugged her openly. He rubbed his cheek to hers. "Thank you! Don't worry, because we will do our best~"

Sakuya can only let herself being embraced by her upperclassman, while Akashi only shook his head at Mibuchi's affection towards the girl. He then noticed a ball rolling to his position. He picked it up, not until someone came to him to get the ball. "Excuse me."

Noticing the man, Akashi smirked and thrown the ball to the guy's direction, which easily caught by him. "So this day has finally come, Tetsuya."

Kuroko Tetsuya stood face-to-face with Akashi. Sakuya silently watched the two conversed while still in Mibuchi's embrace. "Is that Kuroko Tetsuya-san? I only noticed him today. How rare," Sakuya thought while observing the light-blue-haired man who is shorter than Akashi, even shorten than herself.

"To be frank, I'm surprised," Akashi mused as he narrowed his eyes. "I had thought your abilities are too low for you to make it all the way here."

Like Akashi said, Kuroko's abilities are too low, thus making them impossible for him to make it to the finals. But somehow, he made it; going to face his team later. The redhead remembered on the day when he met Kuroko and was astonished with the guy's lack of presence. He observed him and told him to make his zero presence as a weapon that can be used in basketball, so when the guy is ready, he can tell his coach about it and let him see his skill – misdirection. When Kuroko was taken in the first string, Akashi was Kuroko's personal instructor and trained him hard to polish his new skill. Although he didn't teach him how to shoot, because he knew if Kuroko does, his presence will shine and the misdirection skill won't work again.

As time passed, that internal conflict happened. Kuroko didn't like the change in the team, but he still decided to play with them. While in their third year of middle school, after that match against Kuroko's childhood friend's team, Kuroko can't take it anymore and he quitted the basketball club. And that was the time when Akashi once asked Kuroko that question, but the guy only replied that he wouldn't run away anymore.

And so, this is the right time to ask that question again. "Have you found your answer from that time?"

With those eyes burning with determination, Kuroko answered, "Yes."

Feeling astonished, Akashi smirked. "Then show me. Your basketball."

"…No," Kuroko replied. "What I will be showing you is not my basketball." The light-blue-haired man tilted his body and showed Akashi his whole team with eyes filled with determination like Kuroko's. "It is Seirin's basketball."

"I see," Akashi's smirk grows wider. "I accept your challenge."

The redhead sure can't wait of what the answer will be given by Kuroko Tetsuya in the final match later.

"Seirin's basketball…" Sakuya muttered under her breath, noticed by Mibuchi. Not a while after, she let out a small chuckle. It is the first time for Mibuchi to hear the girl laugh, so he was quite surprised.

"What's wrong, Sa-chan?"

Sakuya craned her neck so she can see Mibuchi's face and smiled to him. "It's nothing, Reo-senpai. I just feel excited, that's all."

"Ah," noticing the meaning behind her words, Mibuchi smiled back to her. "I guess we can put our hopes in Seirin, hm?"

Sakuya only nodded silently. Since Mibuchi also feels the same like her, she believes in one thing.

Whatever the outcome of the match later, she won't feel that feeling she hates again.

It's just that she has that guess.

"Match over! Winter Cup third place goes to Shuutoku High!" said the announcer through the microphone as the whistle blown; ending the match between Kaijo versus Shuutoku. The score was 54 – 96, Shuutoku's favor. The winning team of course celebrated their victory against their opposing team. Although Kaijo lost, they didn't feel too much disappointment at all. Alas, it is still well as they also used all their strength to stop Shuutoku.

Midorima, who was drenched in sweat, approached Kise who was still sitting on the bench. "Kise," he called out to him. "We'll postpone our match-up so that next time we can both go all out."

"Midorimacchi…" Kise was quite surprised to hear that from Midorima. Afterwards, he snapped at Midorima. "Of course! If I'd been playing, we'd have won for sure!"

Feeling annoyed at Kise's behavior, a tick mark showed on Midorima's head. "We'd have turned the tables on you," he reminded sternly.

"Well, nothing I can do about it, I guess," Kise grinned in satisfaction. "It's painful, but today we've just gotta take the back seat. Since we surrendered the real delicious parts to the lead actors of this play," Kise stated, referring to Seirin versus Rakuzan that will be commenced after this.

"I know," Midorima pushed up his glasses. He then glanced to the spectator seat to see Sakuya was watching him. The girl sat next to Akashi, who already stood up and get ready for the final match. Sakuya nodded to the redhead and Akashi left first to the locker room. The girl maybe wanted to see Midorima a little while longer. "I need to watch it, after all."

"I wonder who will win," Kise retorted.

Takao then approached Midorima and smacked the greenhead's back. "Let's go, Shin-chan. The others are waiting-" but the hawk-eye user followed Midorima's line of sight to find Sakuya with the other spectators. "Ah, so that's why~" he leered. Without any thoughts, Takao waved his hand to Sakuya's direction. "Urenomiya!" he shouted so the girl can hear him.

"What do you think you're doing, Takao?" Midorima sighed. "Stop it. I don't want her to gain unnecessary attention."

"Heh? Who's Urenomiya?" Kise asked and followed Takao's line of sight. He then spotted a brown-haired girl with white jacket who also waved back to Takao.

"None of your business," Midorima replied as he dragged Takao forcefully to join their teammates. "Let's go, Takao."

"Jeez, why don't you wave your hand to her, too?" Takao pouted, but can't help himself but being dragged away by Midorima. Kise was still confused, but he decided to let it slide because he is going back with his teammates also to watch the final game.

While walking, Midorima took a peek at Sakuya to find three girls were with her. The girls seem to know Sakuya, as they took their seat next to her.

"I'm glad we can find you here, Sakuya-chan!" Takano exclaimed happily. She then looked to the court to find the match between Kaijo and Shuutoku has ended. "Ah, too bad we missed the third place match."

"So Shuutoku won?" Yuzume asked, earned a nod from Sakuya.

Takano then spotted Midorima was looking to their direction. Specifically, to Sakuya. "That's Midorima Shintarou, who is actually Sakuya-chan's childhood friend…" Takano glanced to Sakuya, who is also looking back to Midorima. Not a while after, Takano saw Midorima nodded to Sakuya. Sakuya also nodded back to him, and the greenhead left the court with his teammates. "Oh my gosh, it's really true! He is Sakuya-chan's childhood friend!"

"I should be with my team now," Sakuya stood up from her seat and bowed to her three friends. "I will take my leave now. Please enjoy your time here."

Three girls nodded together. "Can we meet after the match later, Urenomiya?" Katagiri asked which earned a shook from Sakuya.

"If the circumstances allow me, I will tell you, Katagiri-san." And Sakuya left the three to downstairs, where her Rakuzan team awaited her.

After both teams are in the court, the starting teams prepared themselves. Shirogane only gave a few lines for their match later and still let Akashi control the decision. The announcer then spoke out, going to introduce both teams first. Seirin team was being introduced first and they are wearing their black uniform for today's match. After introducing the Seirin's captain, the announcer went on with introducing Rakuzan team who is wearing white.

"And now, the team wearing white. Rakuzan High." After their name was spoken, cheers from the crowd exploded.

"The coach, Shirogane Eiji." Shirogane, with his formal suit and usual swept-back hair, stood up and bowed.

"The assistant coach, Satou Takuma." Satou Takuma stood up and did the same like Shirogane did.

"The manager, Urenomiya Sakuya." As her name being announced, Sakuya stood up and bowed. She quickly sat next to Shirogane and the aged man patted her head to calm her down. She is still not used being watched by many eyes.

"I feel bad for Sakuya-chan…" Takano thought. "Oh well. She was cool earlier!"

"Continuing with the starting line up," the announcer continued again. "Number 8, Nebuya Eikichi." Nebuya went inside the court after clapping hands with his teammates on the bench.

"Number 7. Hayama Kotarou." Hayama grinned as he stretched his arms.

"Number 6. Mibuchi Reo." Mibuchi gracefully walked to the court and he still had the time to give a wink to Sakuya. The girl can only smiled at her senior's affection to her.

"Number 5. Mayuzumi Chihiro." Mayuzumi silently jogged to the court expressionless.

"Number 4. The captain. Akashi Seijurou." Akashi walked confidently joining his other teammates. He stole a glance to Sakuya who only nodded to him in understanding and he replied her with his smirk. As the last player being announced, both teams have lined up facing each other. "And with that, the Winter Cup final, the match between Seirin High and Rakuzan High will begin."

"Let's have a good match!" both teams shouted in unison.

As the teams positioned themselves, Sakuya put both of her hands and entwined their fingers together. If she usually feels nervous in every Rakuzan's matches, this time she feels calm.

She believes with this final match – whatever the outcome is, she will be satisfied.

All because she believes in both teams.

"Good luck, everyone."

Author's Note:

I'm sorry for posting this chapter very late! I haven't got any inspirations up lately. But don't worry, I have regained my muse!

Finally, it is the battle between Seirin and Rakuzan. I wonder who will win. But, as I said before, I won't write the battle of them, since the manga is still ongoing. I'll just skip to the result. Whether Seirin wins, or Rakuzan wins. Well, depends on my mood later.

For the next chapters, it will be about the life after Winter Cup and also the starting of spring season. I will insert special chapters there, practically about Akashi's birthday and Christmas. Oh, if I made it on time, New Year is also included.

And again, thank you for the follows and favorites and reviews! Have a nice day, everyone! Please give review if you have time!