Chapter 6

Sayumi shoved the two cell phones into her school bag and left the house earlier than usual. She dropped by the park, but left for school after she thoroughly searched the entire park.

...

Sayumi had five minutes remaining before she needed to sit down in her seat. She left her belongings in the classroom in exception of the two cell phones that she took outside with her.

Alright. Here goes nothing. She clicked on the "chosen" name on the contact list of Aomine's phone and dialed. No one picked up until the second call.

"Aominecchi? I'm kinda busy right now. I'll call you back." The call ended.

Is it me or is this happening to me way too often? Well, at least he answered. Should I wait or call someone else? Ah. I really need to go to class now. The teacher glared at the anxious girl as she scurried back to her seat.

… ( after school in the Touou Academy indoor basketball court ) …

"Sakurai. Call Aomine and tell him there's a mandatory practice today."

"Yes, Captain. Sorry. It's probably my fault that he's not coming. Sorry." The self-blamer dialed his phone.

...

Unlike the other carefree students walking back home, Sayumi raced to the park the minute the dismissal bell went off. Her mood dropped when she didn't see Aomine. Negative thoughts began slipping into her head, but were interrupted by the incoming call from a "Sakurai Ryou."

"Moshi moshi?"

"Um. Sorry. Wrong number. I...I dialed the wrong number...I think. Sorry." Click.

...

"Sakurai. Did you tell Aomine?"

"Um. I dialed the wrong number... I think. A girl answered the phone."

"Maybe it's Momoi-san. Call her to drag Aomine here."

"Call who, Captain?" A pink hair girl followed by Aomine strolled in casually.

"Aomine. Sakurai called you, but a girl picked up instead." Captain expected an answer. Momoi also flashed a glance at the tall boy who was now dumping his sports bag on the bench.

"Momoi. Give me your phone." The girl giggled and handed it to Aomine. He punched in his number and brought the phone to his ear.

...

{Incoming call from Momoi}

Oh no. It's the girl-possibly girlfriend-calling. If I pick up, she might misunderstand. Aomine-kun may not like it if I talked to her. Ugh. Aomine-kun. Would you just come to the park already. I've been waiting ever since school ended.

Sayumi let the call turn into a so-called "missed call."

...

"What's wrong with her? She didn't pick up. I even called her twice."

"Dai-chan. She picked up Sakurai-kun's call. Why not have him call again?"

"Sakurai. Phone." Aomine extended his opened hand.

"Um. Sorry. My phone just ran out of battery. I forgot to charge it yesterday. It's all my fault. I shouldn't even be alive. I'm really sorry. Really sorry..."

Aomine ignored the bowing boy and turned to look at the captain.

"I came to practice. Now give me your phone."

...

{Incoming call from unknown number}

Another call. Please be Aomine-kun. But what if it's an advertisement. Just the other day, Yuki-chan was talking to me about random calls that charge money. I'm not sure if I should answer. She also said something about viruses being sent around if the person picks up the call. But what if it's Aomine-kun?

Before Sayumi had the chance to pick up the call, the other end hung up. The worried girl hid her face in her hands, but looked up when she heard another phone call.

{Incoming call from Kise Ryouta}

"Aominecchi! It's rare to have you call me. I was kinda busy earlier. Gomen. Gomen."

"Is this Kise-san. I'm actually, well. My name is Kineno Sayumi and I-"

"Oh. I might've dialed the wrong number. Don't mind me." Click.

"Hello? Hello? Please don't tell me you hung up too."

...

Ring. The three basketball members looked at each other and then at Momoi whose phone was ringing.

"Did she finally call back with my phone?"

"Haha. Nope. It's Kise. Hold on. Let me pick up." The girl lifted a finger to her lip telling the boys to shush. "Moshi moshi."

"Momocchi. Is Aominecchi with you?"

"Kise," a deep voice answered.

"Hello to you too Aominecchi. I just called you and a girl picked up. I wanted to confirm the good news myself."

"Kise. I need you to get my phone back for me."

"Where's your phone? Who's the girl? Your girlfriend?"

"No. Just call her again and tell her you're getting back my phone for me. She's in the usual park."

"Aominecchi. You should do these things yourself. It's rude to find someone else to go in your place to see a girl who's waiting for you."

"I have 'mandatory' practice. I can't go."

"So just get back your phone, right?"

"Yeah. Meet me tonight at the usual."

"Alright. You owe me." Click.

...

{Incoming call from Kise Ryouta}

"Kise-san? Thanks so much for calling back."

"Oh. No no. I thought I was calling Aominecchi and was surprised a girl answered. Haha. I'm coming to pick up his phone right now in his place. No hard feelings?"

"Absolutely not." Sayumi felt like a stone was just removed from her worried-dead heart.

"You're at the park right?"

"Yes. At the park. It's located um...across..."

"Haha. Don't worry about it. Aominecchi told me where. Stay put." Click.

The girl stopped pacing around and sat down on the bench. It wasn't long until Sayumi saw a dark shadow behind the fence accompanied by the sound of footsteps. The second she got up from her seat, a handsome blonde boy stepped in.