Thank you for reading and reviewing! Hope you enjoy this chapter (the new longest chapter).
Thank you to all of you people for supporting all the way. I'll try my best to work hard too.
Chapter 30
Stares were directed at the tall, handsome boy leaning against the walls of the entrance to the school. He stood straight and smiled when the girl he was waiting for headed his direction. Her golden-brown hair was clipped back neatly on both sides. Instead of wearing her uniform, the girl matched a fashionable white boat neck with a solid dark blue skirt secured with a brown leather belt. The girl stopped in front of the impressed model.
"Kinenocchi. I didn't expect to see you like this." Kise grinned when he saw the girl's new look.
"You still stand out like usual, Kise," Sayumi retorted. She looked around at the curious looks.
"Even with the hat and glasses?" Kise pointed at the same accessories that she disguised him with the day before.
"Where are we going?"
"To the arcade."
...
Kise watched the girl squish inside the circle formed around a boy jamming with a song on the DDR machine. Sayumi, along with everyone else, applauded when the performer stepped down from the machine after passing the game with excellent combos.
"Kineno. Want to play?" Kise looked at the girl who took a profound interest in watching people dance.
"I like watching people play."
"Come on. Let's play then." As if ignoring her previous statement, Kise pulled the shy girl to the empty DDR machine.
...
"I really can't..." Sayumi watched the excited blonde model slip in the last coin before pressing the glowing "Start" button.
"Don't worry. We'll go easy first. We're starting."
"It's so fast...Kise..." Sayumi fumbled with where to stomp next.
"You're doing fine." Kise laughed at his exaggeration.
...
After completing the game, applause filled the room. Kise easily attracted a crowd with his flawless copying skill. Sayumi watched him step down in awe.
"Kinenocchi. You abandoned me during the first quarter of the way," the blonde whined.
"But you played expert mode for two players by yourself without problem. I'm glad I stepped down. I don't like it when people stare."
Kise cast his golden eyes sadly to the floor. "Kinenocchi. Are you bored?"
"No." Sayumi's quick answer was genuine and Kise knew that. "I love watching you." The girl's eyes widened when she heard herself say that aloud. "I mean...um...I...like watching people dance...I have to go to the bathroom."
Kise laughed at the blushing girl heading to the restrooms. This was the first time aside from basketball and modeling that the teen felt excited.
Left waiting for the girl at the end of the ridiculously long line, Kise checked his phone out of habit. He dialed Kasamatsu's number when he saw the missed call from his team captain.
Kise was struck with gloom when he learned of the mandatory basketball team meeting. He knew he had to go since he already skipped the last few meetings due to scheduling conflicts. This time, there was no excuse.
Sayumi ran quickly back to the boy waiting patiently for her. As she approached, she noticed the change in Kise. Though he was smiling, his eyes weren't as lively as before.
"Kise. What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Kise was shocked. No one was able to ever see through his mask except his revered team captain. Sayumi wasn't convinced.
"Kise. If you need to do something, go do it." Sayumi smiled understandingly at the boy. "Don't let me hold you back."
"Kinenocchi..." Kise looked at the girl who read his mind perfectly. He looked apologetically at her. "I'm really sorr-"
"I had a lot of fun today Kise. Thank you."
Sayumi's eyes were twinkling and Kise could have sworn that they were the first pair of eyes to sway him like that. The blonde model suddenly felt the urge to hold the thoughtful girl. If he didn't leave that moment, he couldn't promise not doing anything to that little angel. Kise nodded and rushed out of the populated arcade.
...
Kise didn't turn back to look at the girl he left behind in the arcade. He couldn't bring himself to without going back in and taking her with him. He paused to consider bringing Sayumi to meet his team, but was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Oi. Kise. Don't block the road."
A dark skinned boy approached the conflicted model.
"Aominecchi. Where are you going?" Kise looked at the boy wearing a black tank top and shorts.
"I'm going home," Aomine easily answered. "What're you doing?"
"I have a mandatory meeting." Kise cast his eyes down gloomily, a rare expression for the usually positive blonde.
"What's wrong?" Aomine couldn't deny the part of him that was overprotective of his friends that he cared about. He knew Kise wasn't himself.
"I left Kinenocchi all alone in the arcade." Kise looked guiltily back at the building he came out of.
"So?" Aomine didn't comprehend the situation. "What's wrong with that? You're busy."
"Kagami told me that Kinenocchi witnessed her crush confess to her best friend yesterday. I wanted to cheer her up, but then something came up."
Aomine, annoyed by Kise's worrying, nodded.
"I'll look after Sayu. You do what you have to." Aomine's words of assurance finally sent his friend away.
Along his journey back to Kaijou, Kise blamed himself for leaving the girl alone. But what annoyed him even more was that he let Aomine take over the task of looking after her. Ever since he entered Kaijou, Kise learned to trust his teammates, but something unsettled him this time. Comforting Sayumi wasn't something he really preferred to rely on his friend to do. That was something he enjoyed doing and wasn't too willing to share if he could help it. He couldn't quite understand why it bothered him so much, but throughout the team meeting, the model found it extremely hard to pay attention to what was being discussed.
...
Sayumi lingered behind in the arcade to browse a little longer. In the approximate four years that she stayed in the city, she had never set foot in the lively arcade that was always packed with teenagers after school hours. Sayumi toured the entire center, passing by flashing lights and loud music. She stumbled upon the area where all the couples usually hung out. As coincidental as it was, that was the only area with proper seats. Sayumi made her way to an empty table and planted herself down on a seat. The clueless girl let her eyes wander to the shelves of prizes displayed on the opposite side.
Sayumi was sitting by herself for around ten minutes when a boy suddenly pulled out a chair and seated himself comfortably next to the alarmed girl. Sayumi smiled politely and turned to leave on the other side when another boy situated himself in the no longer vacant seat, blocking all exit routes for the girl.
"You alone today?" The first boy slipped his arm around the nervous Sayumi who tried shrugging off the intrusion without progress.
"I'm waiting for someone. Sayumi nodded her head to excuse herself, but was forced back down. The grip around her shoulders tightened. She remembered when she was in a similar situation-Aomine and the others were teasing her at Maji Burger. Except this time, the boy holding her down didn't care whether he was hurting her or not.
"Oh really? You've been sitting alone for a long time." The boy snickered at the caged girl.
If she were in a more familiar place, Sayumi wouldn't have thought twice about kicking the bully, but she knew better. She was on foreign ground. When she took a closer look at the people surrounding her instead of the prize stand, she noticed that she was hanging with the "older" crowd. She was probably the youngest one among the group. She was definitely misplaced. After analyzing the situation, the frightened girl finally activated her brain to realize that she was drawing the wrong crowd.
"Sayu." A tall boy who looked older than he actually was invited himself to the party. A solid frown was engraved on his face, emitting a deadly aura.
When the tall figure arrived, he pulled out a chair and dropped his feet on the table. He stared plainly at the two jerks bothering the helpless girl.
"Aomine..." Relief brushed across Sayumi. All her earlier fears diminished with the unexpected arrival of her trusted friend.
The boy hovering over the tiny girl released his prisoner when he couldn't stand the dominating presence of the navy-haired boy.
"Che. She's with someone already." The two boys got up and searched for their next target.
Sayumi stared across at Aomine who had his toned arms folded across his broad chest. His expression did not ease from the tension.
"Aomine..."
"Is there anything else you can say besides my name?" Aomine glared at the girl disapprovingly. "What are you even doing here?"
"I wanted to sit down. There weren't any chairs in the other section so I just..."
"You heard of leaving when random strangers approach you?"
"I tried." Sayumi sighed as she reflected on her helplessness from earlier. "Sorry."
"I don't need an apology."
"Thanks."
"I didn't do anything."
"Aomine. Thanks." Sayumi looked sincerely at the boy who rose from his chair.
"Let's go." Aomine walked to the more populated and lit area of the game center. Sayumi followed like a little shadow.
As Aomine took lead, Kise's words came across his mind. He turned around to see the "heartbroken" girl, only to see Sayumi frozen in place, staring at the gigantic stuffed animal on the highest shelf behind the prize counter. He walked towards the quiet girl and placed his large hand on her head like an armrest. Aomine looked at what caught the fascinated girl's attention.
Sayumi feigned a nice smile and looked up at the relaxed boy. "You're heavy."
"You like that thing?" Aomine pointed at the huge big-eyed cuddly bear sitting on the highest shelf. Sayumi shifted his arm to point to the object next to it.
"I like that one." Aomine stared disgustedly at the weird mushroom-looking monster bunking next to the bear. Sayumi squirmed out from underneath the boy's arm and smiled. "I'm done looking."
"Sayu. Come with me." The frustrated boy sighed and dragged the girl to the basketball game stationed in the middle of the center.
...
"Wah! It's so cute! Aomine. Want to pet it?" Sayumi was beaming. Aomine looked at the girl strangely.
"Do girls really like these things?" Sayumi nodded like one of those bobble heads. Aomine bent down to poke the forehead of the mushroom monster that Sayumi was caressing in her arms. It didn't matter to him whether she chose the cuddly bear or horrific fungus creature, as long as she was happy. Aomine scanned the girl's face for any hint of sadness that might be still lingering from the day before. He couldn't detect the slightest trace.
"Are you hungry?" Sayumi smiled innocently.
"You're hungry?" Aomine returned.
"How'd you guess?"
Aomine strode out of the noisy arcade and Sayumi happily skipped alongside him.
...
*slurp*
Aomine watched the girl suck her extra-large vanilla milkshake through the thin straw while Sayumi stared back at the boy who scarfed down his fifth burger and began unwrapping the sixth one.
"Jealous?" Sayumi taunted. The girl squished the gigantic stuffed mushroom plush closer against her chest. "Take-kun!" (Ta-ke=Japanese for mushroom-give Sayu some credit for [her lack of] creativity)
Aomine snarled at the girl's misleading actions. "Why don't you put that down?" Sayumi, not once, allowed the mushroom to leave her lap.
"It's mine. I don't want to put it down." Sayumi slammed her face on the fluffy toy. Aomine turned around. He didn't want anyone to mistaken that he was in any way associated with such an odd person.
"Aomine. Do you want some?" Sayumi forced herself to offer her delicious milkshake to the boy who only bought burgers for himself. No one could be not thirsty after such an intense workout at the arcade. Aomine didn't pay attention to her so the girl pressed her lips against the straw again and drank more.
"Oi."
"Hmm?" Sayumi looked up at the boy who finally wanted to talk.
"Are you...I don't know. Sad about yesterday?" Aomine asked awkwardly.
"What about yesterday?" Sayumi glanced at the impatient boy sitting across from her. She thought a little harder after he shot her an annoyed glare. "I don't remember anything. What happened?"
Aomine couldn't tell if she was acting or plain clueless. He sat up and looked seriously at the wondering girl.
"Are you still sad about the vice-captain confessing to your friend?" the navy-haired boy finally asked.
"How'd you know?" Sayumi couldn't understand how Aomine would know of that ever taking place.
"Kagami told Kise who told me."
"Oh..." Sayumi now understood why Kise called her out. "I see..."
"Are you okay?" Aomine's worried voice caught Sayumi off guard.
"I was the one who encouraged the vice-captain to confess to Meiko." Sayumi's blunt statement threw Aomine off.
"What?"
"I know they both like each other so might as well move them along." Sayumi shrugged and continued slurping. "What?" questioned the carefree girl when she saw Aomine break from his usual coolly arrogant, yet strangely tolerable, personality.
"Che." Aomine stretched his hand across the table and grabbed the drink from Sayumi's small hand. He brought the straw to his mouth and drank. From the corner of his eye, he saw Sayumi gape. "I did buy it." Aomine took a few more big gulps. After quenching his thirst, he shoved the cup back into her free hand.
Sayumi looked from Aomine to the straw where his lips touched. While the boy continued cramming down burgers, she stared intently at the tip of the red-striped straw.
"Don't want it anymore?" Aomine teased.
Sayumi immediately pressed her lips against the straw and finished the remaining few sips. She purposely exaggerated the slurping sound to hide the abrupt pounding of her heart against her chest.
"You're turning red." Aomine deviously smirked.
"I'm always like this," Sayumi responded to stop the boy from hinting anything else.
"Around me?" Aomine leaned closer to the flustered girl.
"No. Around Take-kun." Sayumi lifted the mushroom and used it as a barrier to separate Aomine and herself. Take-kun was the perfect defense since Aomine still wasn't all too comfortable around the ugly toy. The boy slumped back down in his chair.
"Sayu."
Sayumi cautiously lowered the mushroom shield to look at Aomine.
"Are you scared of bugs?"
"Why?"
"There's a spider on you."
Sayumi yelped when she saw the tiny black spot on her white shirt. Her frightened face humored the boy across from her.
"Sa...Sayu..." Aomine held his stomach. Her face was too amusing. "I was kidding."
The spooked Sayumi calmed herself and peeked at her shirt again. It was only a small black fuzz ball.
"I can't believe you could really mistake -"
Sayumi stormed out of Maji Burger, leaving Aomine by himself. After watching the girl exit, his eyes suddenly wandered to the straw sticking out of the empty cup of vanilla milkshake. He couldn't help but recall drinking through the same cup. He usually wouldn't drink milkshakes, but he didn't dislike the sweet taste of vanilla that day. In fact, he started to take a liking to it. Aomine stared at the empty seat across from him and was able to picture the girl slurping away like there was no tomorrow. He found himself unconsciously smiling.
"Screw this." Aomine's sudden menacing look scared the other customers. He got up and left.
...
Sayumi looked into her bathroom mirror. She brought her delicate fingers to her lips.
[Did I just indirectly...]
She shrugged off the thought.
[Aomine probably does that with everyone.]
{Text from Kise Ryouta}: Kinenocchi. Sorry about earlier. You home yet?
{Kineno Sayumi}: No problem. I'm home.
{Kise Ryouta}: You okay?
{Kineno Sayumi}: Better than okay. Aomine bought me an extra-large vanilla milkshake. Kuroko would be so jealous.
{Kise Ryouta}: Haha. Can you finish it by yourself?
{Kineno Sayumi}: Idk. Never tried.
Kise was confused by Sayumi's response.
[Didn't Aominecchi just buy her one? What does she mean she never tried? It can't be that they shared? No no. That's impossible. Aominecchi never shares.]
{Kineno Sayumi}: Did you make it in time to your meeting?
{Kise Ryouta}: Yeah.
{Kineno Sayumi}: Did you have fun?
{Kise Ryouta}: Sure.
Kise frowned. He usually likes attending team meetings, but for this particular one, he was too occupied with thinking about a certain person to fully enjoy himself.
...
{Text from Sayu}: Boo!
Aomine almost dropped his phone when the picture of the ugly mushroom suddenly zoomed out on his phone.
{Text from Sayu}: Gotcha. : P
...
Meiko waved at her two friends the minute the school bell sounded and ran out of the classroom. Her two abandoned friends watched the excited girl dash to the gym to support her new boyfriend.
"Meiko-chan seems more into basketball than you Sayumi-chan!"
"Heh. She only goes to watch. I play."
Deserted by their friend, Sayumi and Yuki linked arms and walked down the hill together. Sayumi's long hair blew into her friend's face who grabbed it and tied it up messily.
"Sayumi-chan. Cut your hair." Yuki wagged Sayumi's ponytail to emphasize her point. "It tangles so easily. Might as well snip it. I can help you." Yuki conjured up a random pair of scissors.
"Yuki-chan! Stop!" Sayumi ran and her friend chased her crazily down the streets. "Put that away before anyone gets hur-"
Sayumi rammed into a solid surface and fell backwards. Yuki couldn't stop in time before she toppled over her friend. Her scissors were confiscated by a large giant behind the man boy who Sayumi crashed into. Yuki stared at the long purple-hair of the boy who took her special pair of cutters. A pair of large hands extended out to the two girls on the ground. The left one was offered to Sayumi and the right to Yuki.
"I'm really sorry about that. Are you okay?" Sayumi asked timidly to the figure who offered help. Her eyes sailed to the huge figure that covered any sunlight from reaching her and Yuki. Yuki blinked twice at the colossal size of the person standing in front of her. Not to seem rude for pausing for a good ten seconds, Sayumi smiled and took the hand. Yuki followed her brave friend's lead. With an effortless pull, Sayumi popped right back up from the floor.
"Are you okay?" a deep voice asked.
"I'm fine. Thank you -" Sayumi stopped in mid speech when she discerned one of the two tall boys standing quietly behind the gentleman who helped her up.
The tallest boy spun the scissors in his hand and walked pass Sayumi without exchanging a simple word.
"Murasakibara." Sayumi let go of the boy's hand and turned to look at her friend. Murasakibara continued to ignore the girl and walk.
"Atsushi." Himuro called with a calm voice. Murasakibara looked down at the other small girl and handed her the scissors. Yuki stared in awe as she held her hand out to take back her scissors. After handing back the scissors, Murasakibara walked ahead.
Sayumi watched the boy amble to the next street ahead of his two friends. The girl truly worried for her giant friend. They haven't been talking after the last incident which she didn't yet understand. She couldn't recall doing anything to hurt him so she was befuddled by his change of attitude towards her. When she finally pulled herself away from the bad thoughts, she directed her attention back to the stone figure in front of her.
"I'm really sorry again." Sayumi looked sincerely at the gorilla of a man. Though he looked malicious, he was really kind, Sayumi could tell. Looks can be deceiving. "I'm Kineno Sayumi. Hajimemashite." Sayumi bowed courteously at the boy who suddenly turned nervous.
"I'm...Ken...Kenichi Okamura." The giant fumbled with his words. He didn't have enough practice speaking with pretty girls.
Sayumi turned towards the stoic figure in the background. She eyed him up and down before approaching him and finally greeted him. The quiet boy introduced himself as Himuro Tatsuya and nodded. Sayumi didn't take her eyes off the boy. After all, he was the first other than Akashi to be able to tame Murasakibara. He also reminded her of a certain hothead though they had completely contrasting personalities.
Kenichi watched sadly as the other pixie hopped over to join her friend in talking with the popular Himuro.
After formal greetings were over with, the two girls waved goodbye and ventured further down the street. Himuro turned to his pathetic team captain who had streams of river pouring down his face.
"Why do they all go for you and Murasakibara?" the captain complained. "Especially the cute ones..."
Himuro shook his head and patted his captain. "Let's go find the other giant baby."
...
"Sayumi-chan~" Yuki sang. Sayumi turned to a grinning girl. Sayumi scanned her friend.
"You seem awfully happy all of a sudden." Sayumi commented. She, on the other hand, wasn't too thrilled that Murasakibara hadn't made up with her yet.
"Cheesh Sayumi-chan. Why you looking so glum? You should be happy to bump into your cute friends. Don't abandon me like Meiko-chan. Wah!" Yuki complained to her distracted friend.
"I won't I won't," Sayumi comforted her friend. "For now." Sayumi smirked at her pouting friend. Yuki then smiled sheepishly. "I'm jealous of you and Meiko." Yuki sighed and skipped on ahead.
"Yuki-chan!"
"Hmm?" The slim girl spun around like a ballerina.
"Why?" Sayumi's earnest look prompted her friend to share her true feelings.
"It's just that you and Meiko were always popular." Yuki inhaled a deep breath. "I'm happy for you two."
"Stop it Yuki-chan. Don't make yourself sound so pitiful." Sayumi playfully punched Yuki's arm. "You have been confessed to plenty of times. I haven't even been confessed to even once."
"Well that's different. The boys who confess to me are all playing around. But they never confess to you because they're all too shy to approach you."
"What do you mean? I'm totally approachable. It's just that Meiko steals all the attention."
"Meiko..." the two girls said the name as if it was a curse.
"Sayumi-chan. Would you do me a favor?" Sayumi couldn't refuse Yuki's glittering round orbs.
"What?"
"Can you introduce the tall boy to me again next time?" Yuki blushed, something Sayumi never saw before. "You're just friends with him right?"
Sayumi nodded reluctantly. "Yeah. Just friends."
"Can you help me get him?" Yuki pleaded angelically.
The innocent plea shook Sayumi. Murasakibara appeared in Sayumi's thoughts. His kindness, humor, boldness, cluelessness, straightforwardness, and friendship...Would she have to share that if Yuki did become his girlfriend. Sayumi mentally slapped herself. Like Yuki said, she and the purple giant were "just" friends. Sayumi turned to her friend to give her her answer.
"I'll...I'll try my best... to hook you up with Murasakibara." Even Sayumi noticed that she sounded unwilling. She hoped Yuki wouldn't be offended. She turned to the girl next to her to apologize for her territorial selfishness.
"Yuki-cha"
"Sayumi-chan. What's wrong with you?" Yuki shoved Sayumi playfully. "I was talking about the other one. NOT Murasakibara. He's scary. You can have him for all I care."
"The other one...?" The dumbfounded girl blinked. Of course it was the handsome and cool Himuro she was referring to. Sayumi blushed at her own stupid conclusions and blamed herself for having such selfish thoughts. She remembered the first time she bumped into Murasakibara. He was intimidating, but time slowly dissolved this impression. Sayumi smiled lightly.
"So will you help or not?" Yuki needed to know. She was demanding.
"I'm not sure if I can. I think he's ignoring me..." Sayumi turned sad again. Concerned filled Yuki's eyes.
"Well, then. Do what you do best in times of confusion." Yuki nodded positively. "Go eat your heart out."
"Yuki-chan. I don't have an appetite."
"Don't lie to yourself Sayumi-chan. Your stomach just grumbled."
"That was yours."
"..."
"See. It came from you."
"Ah. You're right. Sayumi-chan. Did you bring any money today?"
"..."
...
After a long day of babying Yuki, Sayumi returned home. She was faced with a tight feeling inside her and when she couldn't tolerate it any more, she shot up and changed into her sportswear. She needed an outlet to vent out her confusion-the confusion caused by Yousen's laziest and strongest basketball player.
Sayumi knew she was early, but ran into the park excitedly when she heard the thundering slam roaring through the basketball courts.
"Aomine!" He was sweating like a faucet, but Sayumi was thrilled to see him. Sayumi threw the towel sitting on his sports bag at him. He easily caught it and walked out to the water fountain.
Aomine glared at the giggling girl on the bench as he approached her. She stuck out her water bottle.
"Why does that stupid fountain keep breaking?" Aomine drank the entire bottle.
"I like that water fountain." Sayumi defended the very object that sparked her interaction with the tanned boy next to her.
Aomine remembered as well. He was surprised that such a random meeting would bring about a friendship between the two basketball lovers.
"Why you here Sayu?"
"Hmm?"
"Everyone else can't make it tonight. Didn't you get the news?"
"Nothing bad happened right?" Sayumi was filled with concern.
"No. Everyone's just occupied with something else."
"And you?"
"I play either way-rain or shine." Aomine stated proudly.
"Aomine...can you teach me something?" Sayumi never had the opportunity to ask, but since it was only them tonight, might as well. Aomine raised a brow. "Teach me how to beat Murasakibara."
Laughter wasn't what Sayumi wanted to hear, but she expected it.
"Sayu. It's only these few days that I realized how funny you are." Aomine knew that the girl was weird, but he couldn't guess that she was also crazy to a certain extent. "Muri."
"Aomine..." Sayumi stared at the boy. "It's not funny." Aomine ignored her and con tined laughing. Prompted to do so, Sayumi pinched the boy's arm.
"Ow! What'd you do that for?"
"Are you helping me or not?" Sayumi was serious. "It's either you or Seijuurou."
Aomine looked at the resolution burning inside her tiny body. A smirk wiped across his face and threw Sayumi his basketball.
...
"If you can perfect that spin, you may have a chance against him." Aomine nodded in triumph at coming up with something to counter the impenetrable defense of the purple-haired giant for his little feisty friend. "Alright. Get up. One more time."
Sayumi positioned herself directly across from Aomine who was getting ready to toss up the ball.
"Aomine. Stop laughing and throw the ball." Sayumi bluntly stated at her opponent.
"Sayu. Focus." Aomine suppressed his laugh.
"I am focused. Aomine. Why are we practicing the tip off?" Sayumi finally barked when she couldn't handle his intentional teasing anymore. "I'm never going to tip off against Murasakibara. Now that's muri." Sayumi took back the basketball in her hands. "I was serious. Don't play around with me."
"I'm not. I know you can't get the ball, but this helps practice with your jumping power and reading the opponent's movements." Sayumi looked at Aomine.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Now try again." Sayumi nodded and positioned herself to jump. Aomine was surprised with the girl's naivety.
Sayumi jumped and failed, but immediately went to block Aomine from making a shot. Her personal tutor purposely towered over her to imitate Murasakibara. Sayumi took hint that it was time to perform her newly acquired skill, but failed in the process.
"Sayu. Pivot more. You're too stiff. One more time."
The two then restarted from the tip off.
...
Sayumi gracefully maneuvered pass the giant wall blocking her and the ball passed through the net with a victorious swoosh. She flashed a smile at her coach who held up his right hand. The gleeful girl jumped in the air and smacked her hand onto his.
"You almost missed." Aomine knew the exact strings to pull to tick off the girl.
"That's because you lifted your hand so high."
"That's why it's a high five."
"That's not fair. Kuroko gets the easy fist bump."
"That's because he's Tetsu."
"Che." Sayumi opened Aomine's sports bag and pulled out his spare towel.
"You better return it clean and washed tomorrow," Aomine ordered.
"See you tomorrow night." Sayumi waved at the boy before heading home to get a long rest from her hard work.
...
As promised, Sayumi returned a clean, fresh lemon-scented towel to Aomine, but ended up using it again after the game the next day.
"Sayu, get your own towel." Sayumi continued to wipe herself.
"Aomine. Get your own water." Aomine didn't leave a single drop for the tired girl.
"Sheesh. Now I really blame the fountain."
"Really? I've got to thank it."
Aomine and Sayumi's looked at each other and their eyes met at the same time. The boy broke away first and went to join the rest of the boys on the court. Sayumi entered their little meeting as well.
"Guys. I know Seijuurou is busy today, but why isn't Murasakibara here either?" Sayumi asked a little worried.
"Kinenocchi. I think he's avoiding Kurokocchi."
"Kise-kun. Why me?"
"Just felt like saying that. You're so adorable Kurokocchi!" Kise dived in to hug the lovable Kuroko.
"I think he's avoiding you." Midorima mercilessly pointed out to Sayumi.
"I thought so too." Sayumi looked back up at the rest of the gang. "Then it's decided. I'm going to Yousen tomorrow. Who's with me?"
"Good luck."
"Don't get crushed."
"Tell us how it goes."
"Kineno-san..."
"Okay. Fine. I'll go alone." The unsupported girl headed out of the park, but before she walked out completely, she turned around. "Stop laughing Aomine."