Hello again. Thanks for reading! I just wanted to say, thank you for the reviews and comments. It's really encouraging as I don't really know if this is to your liking, but since you're here, I'm guessing it's alright. In response to some of the reviews: I originally planned for this to be a more happy type of story, but maybe I came off a little more to the sad side on the last chapter. But please don't get the wrong idea. I don't plan on making the whole thing sad.

Chapter 21 is here. It's my longest chapter yet. And yes, beware of the danger zone. Thanks again and looking forward to any feedback!

Chapter 21

Though it was well after school hours, when Sayumi went to Rakuzan High School, there were many stares directed at her. Perhaps it wasn't the brightest move to go directly to Rakuzan from her school without changing out of her own school uniform first. Her uniform was evidently a different color making her stand out way too much. Whispers followed her everywhere. It was no surprise considering the fact that the prestigious high school didn't allow visitors much less students from other schools. Sayumi, who was standing right at the entrance, threw off a lot of students when she casually strolled in and began roaming the campus.

The girl tilted her head to look at the big school in front of her.

Koukai-nii used to see this school every morning.
Sayumi could picture her brother holding his school bag and rushing to class every morning. She could also imagine him rushing out of class and heading to the basketball courts. She smiled at the thought. Without thinking any further, she walked into the school.

From the minute she walked in, got lost, went to the bathroom, and got lost again, Sayumi felt-nothing. Her "visit" was not as eventful as she pictured it would be the night before. A short three hours had already passed, but she didn't really feel or see anything different from when she first entered. There maybe wasn't a point to come and visit after all. Besides, what was she expecting?

Sayumi headed towards the last unexplored section of the school. She almost missed that part of the campus until she saw a group of tall boys walking out together. She immediately looked at their shoes-basketball shoes.

The girl stood still and stared at the door. The Rakuzan students who were passing by looked at the "visitor" strangely. The whole tour around the campus was honestly rather boring for Sayumi, but now was a different story. She actually found it a little scary to open the doors to the indoor basketball courts. She leaned against the closed doors, afraid to open them just yet.

I already walked the hallways that Koukai-nii used to walk on. There's no point in seeing the courts. It's not like he's going to come back and smile at me if I were to go in. It's not like seeing the gym that my brother practiced and played games in would bring him back.
Sayumi breathed and was about to finally leave, but the squeaking sound of basketball shoes followed by the sound of a successful basket stopped her. As if by impulse, she pushed open the doors. The bright lights temporarily blinded Sayumi and her eyes shot down to the glistening waxed floors.

Slowly when her eyes adjusted to the change of lighting, Sayumi looked up slowly. A pair of basketball shoes standing in the middle of the court were the first to come into view. Then came the familiar white shorts highlighted with a thin wave of baby blue. Sayumi felt her heart pounding so painfully loud, but she forced herself to continue looking up. Her eyes were then set on the big number in bold black written on the jersey of the boy standing with his back to her.

Sayumi's arms dropped her school bag and her legs sprinted to the figure standing on the court.

"Koukai-nii!" Sayumi's arms wrapped securely around the waist of the boy wearing the Rakuzan jersey. Tears were streaming down her face as she buried it deeper into the back of the boy's jersey. The same broad back and solid shoulders. The same posture. The same scent and vibe. The same.

"Koukai-nii..." the crying girl's shaky voice repeated, her arms still embracing the figure in the white and blue jersey.

Suddenly, Sayumi felt a jerk and was shoved to the floor by a strong force. The boy freed himself from the unexpected "attack" from the person who came in with a death wish.

"Koukai-nii..." Sayumi's endless tears blurred her vision. She looked up and saw, there was no mistake, Rakuzan Jersey Four. She wiped the tears to get a better look. The redhead bent down so that the obstinate girl could see him and not his shirt.

Sayumi's eyes widened when the cold pair of heterochromatic eyes met with her blurred teary ones.

"You..." Sayumi lost her voice then and there. Nothing came out. She swallowed and tried to say something, but nothing came out, only more tears. The redhead didn't stay to watch the pathetic girl sitting stupidly on the floor. He simply headed to the lockers to change out of his sweaty jersey.

There was no way that was Koukai-nii. Why did I let myself do that? Am I not over his death yet? I thought I accepted it already. Why? Koukai-nii...I miss you so much...
Being the only one left in the court, Sayumi allowed herself to cry. The lights went out soon after.

Sayumi turned around to look at Rakuzan one more time before she walked out of the school and headed home. She glanced at the time on her phone and rushed to buy dinner.

After eating another bento for dinner, she went back home to change. Instead of speeding to the park like usual, Sayumi took her time that night. Somehow she didn't have the energy to play. As she sauntered into the park, she felt a sudden chill. The wind was not particularly strong that night, but it sure wasn't friendly.

"Kineno-san. Are you going in?" Kuroko's unexpected voice caught the distant girl off guard. The boy slipped into the bench seat next to her.

"Kuroko. You scared me...again." Sayumi said half-heartedly and recovered from the shock.

"Kineno-san. Are you okay? You seem a little out of it." Kuroko pointed at her T-shirt. Sayumi looked down and realized that she was wearing it backwards. No wonder the people who passed her in the streets were looking at her a little oddly.

"This is so embarrassing." Sayumi almost took off her shirt in front of Kuroko when a sudden hand pulled her shirt down.

"Don't taint Tetsu like that."

"I...I totally forgot Kuroko was there. Sorry." When Aomine confirmed that she wasn't doing it consciously, he let go. Sayumi slipped her shirt back into its backwards position. She turned to the stunned boy next to her.

"Kuroko. I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything indecent." Sayumi bowed. "Will...will you forgive me?"

"It's no big deal." Kuroko brushed off. But still, Sayumi remained with her head down.

"Sayu. Look up. He forgave you already."

Sayumi slowly lifted her head and blinked back a few tears. The two boys looked at the girl.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered. "I didn't mean to do something stupid...I...I...just..."

A large hand was placed on Sayumi's head.

"Did Aominecchi do something to you?" Kise's vibrant voice infiltrated the uncomfortable situation. Murasakibara was right behind him, followed by Kagami.

"Kine-chin. Your shirt is backwards."

"Kineno. Did Aomine do something to you?" Kagami glared at the tanned boy standing in front of the teary-eyed girl.

"Oi. Don't accuse me of anything. I just told her not to take off her shirt in front of Tetsu."

"That doesn't sound like you," Kagami bluntly stated.

"Mine-chin. That story is a bit off." Murasakibara smirked.

Aomine looked at Kise for some defense, but the blond model was too concerned with the girl sitting next to Kuroko.

"There's nothing to see even if she were to take off her shirt. Definitely not my type." Aomine took the clean white towel around his neck and threw it at Sayumi's face.

"Aominecch-" Kise looked at the boy who walked inside to start warming up first. Kuroko followed as well as the other two. The kind-hearted boy bent down and slipped his water bottle into her hands. "Join us when you're ready." Kise then left the girl alone and joined the group of boys who were already playing.

Sayumi, after all the boys went to play, removed the towel covering her face. She didn't want them to see her like that. Today was definitely terrible. She twisted the cap off the bottle and drowned her sorrows in cold water. She got up after chugging the whole bottle and then joined the five boys waiting for the last player to start the game.

"Kinenocchi! Are you okay?"

Sayumi put her hand on her throbbing head. In a few seconds, four other shadows hovered over her. The people around were spinning.

"Murasakibara. Why'd you push her down like that?" a voice barked, but she couldn't make out who it came from.

"She bumped into me when I was making that shot," a voice defended.

All worried eyes went back on the girl on the floor. Sayumi managed sit back up.

"Kineno-san. Can you get up?" a soft voice asked. Sayumi shook her head slowly and looked back on the cement floor.

It hurt. Something hurt really bad. Her hand hurt. Her head hurt. Her heart hurt. She hurt.

I can't let them see me like this. It's not even their fault. How stupid can I get? I've been worrying them too much. I need to leave until I get things straight.

Sayumi slowly limped her way up. Kagami's sturdy hands assisted her and she thankfully borrowed his strength.

"Nice shot. Three points there, huh?" Sayumi's voice forced out. No matter how much effort she tried to hide it, her voice was trembling.

The boys stared at her pitifully. The spunky girl that they always enjoyed teasing seemed so small that moment. The lost and confused look on her face didn't suit her.

"I'm...I'm fine. So...don't worry..." Sayumi's voice cracked and tears spilled out. She was not fine. These two days had taken a bigger tow on her than she was willing to acknowledge. Her plan to suppress the pain she felt inside backfired.

Kagami read the situation and turned her around to let her lean on him. The tears from her little sobs dampened his shirt, but he didn't complain. The other boys returned helpless stares at Kagami's who was mouthing the word "help". Kise shook his head this time. Even the lady's man didn't have a solution.

"I don't have any tissues," Murasakibara answered when the eyes fell on him. All the eyes consequently fell on Kuroko who pointed at Aomine. The tanned boy let out a sigh and stepped forward to put a hand on the small figure's shoulders.

"Sayu. Stop crying. It was just a little push. Sit out if you're not playing."

"Aominecch-"

Sayumi patted Kagami and he willingly released her. The girl sniffed.

"I think I might sit out then." The injured girl limped her way to the bench and grabbed Aomine's towel and pressed it on her face. After hiding behind the piece of cloth for a few seconds, she removed it. "I'm going to go home first." She stood up. This was the first time the basketball crazed girl voluntarily left before any of the other boys.

Kuroko passed the ball to Kagami who nodded before following after Sayumi who limped sadly out of the park.

Kuroko tailed her unnoticed all the way until the girl stopped at the corner a few blocks from her house. He saw her sit down and curl up the wall. It wasn't his style to watch people cry, but it was late and he couldn't leave the struggling girl all alone at night.

"Kineno-san. You're going to make Murasakibara feel really guilty. He didn't even push you down, did he?"

The girl took a breath and shook her head. "I slipped myself. I'll apologize later."

"Did something happen earlier?" Kuroko suspected it from earlier, but finally deemed it appropriate to ask.

"I went to Rakuzan today," the little voice answered. Kuroko jumped a little at the name of the familiar high school. "I fell there too," Sayumi joked to herself. Sayumi opened her mouth to speak again, but stopped when she saw the tall figures approaching her and Kuroko.

"Kinenocchi." Kise bent down next to his two friends. "You look just as white as Kuroko. Perhaps even whiter." The concerned blond placed his warm hand on Sayumi's forehead. "You're burning. Kinenocch-" The girl fell unconscious.

"Sayu." Sayumi opened her eyes to see Aomine. She shifted the bed cover and sat up, her hand holding her aching head.

"What time is it?" the girl asked.

"10:05." Sayumi looked out the window and saw the dark sky. She turned back at the tall boy who took a seat next to her bed.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize to me. It was Murasakibara who carried you all the way here. He's down in the kitchen shoving candy into his stomach. Poor him. He gave up after carrying you through the door. It was Kise who brought you up the stairs."

Sayumi looked around to see vanilla painted walls. It was a soothing color. She looked at Aomine to ask a question, but he already had an answer.

"We're at Tetsu's. He insisted on bringing you here." Aomine looked at the girl and surprised her when he felt her temperature. "Guess there wasn't a need to take you to the hospital."

"Why?" the girl asked innocently.

"I really hate dumb girls." Sayumi's round eyes prompted him to continue. "After you passed out, Kagami was going to take you back home, but Tetsu convinced him to take you back to his home first. That boy suspected you were hiding something and was afraid that you'd have trouble explaining to your family if we brought you to the hospital."

"Kuroko..."

"He's asleep on the couch downstairs." Sayumi felt guilty for hogging his bed. "Kagami had to rush home. Kise's manager called him out. Who told you to sleep so long? What's wrong with you?" Sayumi smiled as Aomine turned his back to her. "Get up."

The girl got up, but felt a sharp pain run up her right leg. Sayumi kept quiet and limped down the stairs after Aomine.

"Oi." Murasakibara turned to look at Aomine. "She's awake. I'm leaving now."

"Kine-chin..." Murasakibara walked out of the kitchen with his box of Pocky which he didn't bother to offer to the girl.

"Murasakibara. Gomen."

"Kine-chin. I'm staying here to eat a little more first." The tall boy walked back into his sweets heaven.

Sayumi saw a sleeping Kuroko on the sofa and smiled. She took the blanket on the chair and gently covered the sleeping angel as she whispered another "thank you" for the boy's selfless thoughtfulness.

Aomine turned to look at the limping girl behind him.
Why is she so pathetic?

The tall boy swerved around and swooped the small object of his developing affections into his muscular arms. Sayumi ducked shamefully. There was no way she'd be able to make it home at the rate she was going even if it was only a few blocks away.

"Sayu. Does falling really hurt?" The unexpected question came from nowhere. Sayumi looked at the strong boy who continued to look ahead, never sparing her any eye contact.

"It hurts no matter how many times you fall."

"How many times did you fall?"

"Too many to count."

"How about today?"

"I fell twice."

"Where?"

"In basketball courts."

The boy holding the girl stopped in front of her house and scanned her face. To her surprise, Aomine paused only for a few seconds before continuing to walk.

"Where are we going?"

"You don't want to go home yet do you?" The girl shyly shook her head.

"Do you need to go home?" He shook his head which surprised her even more.

"Aomine. Have you ever fell?"

"Nope." The boy responded proudly and looked at the girl. His expression changed when he saw hers. "Why do you ask?"

"I...want to know...how to get back up."

"Just stand back up," Aomine stated obviously. Sayumi's eyes shot to the simple-minded boy carrying her. He was serious.

"There was once...when I almost fell," Aomine began. Sayumi immediately gave him her undivided attention. "I almost did, but I didn't. Tetsu, he..."

"Saved you?" asked the girl who was really interested.

"No. He reminded me to not fall." Aomine smiled to himself and then looked at the girl. "Don't interrupt me."

"Sorr-"

"So if you fall, we'll be here to remind you to stand up again." The boy looked the other way to hide the embarrassment he felt from saying something so out of character. The girl's eyes never left his.

"I know." Sayumi comfortably leaned her head down on his chest. She felt his warmth.

"Oi. Don't fall asleep."

"Koukai-nii carried me like this before when I fell asleep once."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"We're here." Aomine put the girl down and watched as she fumbled with her house keys. When she finally opened the door, she waved at the boy who was already half way down the block.

...
The next day, Sayumi found herself well enough to attend school.

"Did you get into a fight? You look beat up," Yuki joked and poked Sayumi's bandaged hand.

"We haven't see you around lately. Did you secretly get a boyfriend? Does he secretly abuse you?" laughed Meiko.

"Guys. No. And the one who's a masochist is you Meiko, not me." Sayumi snapped back. "I have something I want to tell you..."

"Meiko-chan!" a boy's voice interrupted the girl who finally was ready to share the news with her friends. "Theater staff is short on hands. We need you." The bold boy dragged Meiko out.

"I'll help too!" Yuki quickly offered and turned to look at Sayumi who told them that she'll be staying to finish her lunch. The two friends turned to look at the lonely girl sitting on the desk.

"What did you want to tell us again?" the two asked at the same time.

"Nothing. It's not important." Sayumi assured them before they left with the boy.

If I can't even tell Meiko and Yuki that I'm leaving, how will I ever tell...

"Stupid. Why are you here?" Aomine's voice boomed as Sayumi limped painfully to the bench area.

"Kinenocchi. We didn't expect you."

"Kineno. You shouldn't play today. Look at you." Kagami shook his head disapprovingly. "Murasakibara isn't here today. So you can't join in even if you want to."

"Kineno-san."

"I'm not here to see you sweaty guys. No offense Kuroko. I came to watch basketball."

"Come back when you can actually play. We miss Murasakibara," Kagami lied.

Aomine shoved the ball to Kagami. "Let's play."

Sayumi watched the boys play silently. She didn't know tears were forming again until her eyes began to blur.

She would definitely miss the kindness of the little shadow. She would also miss the yapping and directness of the fun hothead as well as the kindness and positive personality of the blonde model. And she wouldn't forget the hidden gentleness lying within the navy-haired boy. She also knew she would miss sharing sweets with a certain boy who wasn't on the court that night.

She would miss all of them. Who knew that the short nights of basketball would begin to weave her life with those of such incredible basketball players. They were all so precious to her that the thought of not seeing them again hurt her way too much to even share.

I definitely can't tell them.

The rest of the week, Sayumi, who was still recovering, never missed a basketball hangout. On a few nights, Murasakibara did join them, but only to sit and eat next to the girl who began to look slightly different in everyone's eyes. Perhaps it was the change of clothes to something more feminine, but there was something else.

Sayumi also unconsciously began to look at the boys differently. Parting with them would be more difficult than she thought it would be. She already stepped into danger zone.