A beautiful voice was singing in a catchy beat: "So hate me, I don't care. I'm proud that I'm Bitchier. Bitch, Bitch, Bitch. Bitchier. Shut up, I'm Bitchier. Bitch, Bitch, Bitch. Bitchier. You shut up, I'm Bitchier." Mika took the earbuds from her ears and gave them back to Midorima.

"What do you think?" the bespectacled boy asked. His eyes were shining and never had Mika seen him so excited about something. "She has songs about achieving your dreams too like 'That Damn Thing'll be Mine' and 'Fuck it, I'll Have It'."

"T-they seem captivating." There was nothing wrong with the songs, it was just that their community was conservative and their goal was to successfully find foster parents for the Haven's kids. Although, maybe this kind of thing could help the children find modern homes? Was that a good thing? Or maybe an O.K. thing. It wasn't about being traditional or being modern, it was about the kids being genuinely loved. "Let's try a couple more of her songs."

Kise was with them at the corner of the outdoor court. He looked at Midorima. "I didn't know that you like Yuna-neechan so much. If you only mentioned it to me I could've helped you meet her." Midorima's eyes widened and he gaped. Kise chuckled. "I'll make sure you see her one of these days."

Seirin's last activity for Haven was to help them arrange a fashion show where their kids could potentially find future homes and where Haven could have more sponsors and donations. As decided in their meeting, even the elderly would participate.

The girl looked around her. Aside from the Seirin basketball club, the whole Rakuzan team and the Generation of Miracles with some of their friends were helping them prepare for the event. The scene reminded her so much of the school festival in Teiko.

Seiji was instructing a couple of his members as they constructed the wooden stage. The boy must have sensed that someone was watching him because he looked in her direction and their eyes met. He gave her a heartfelt smile and Mika almost melted. He was just so cute and adorable. She smiled back.

"We're here!" announced a voice she hadn't heard before. It came from a very tall and beautiful boy. He was carrying big bags in his hands, with two others and Mika's friend, Juliette-Madam Blanc's adopted daughter.

"Mibuchi-senpai?" One of the Rakuzan varsity players was obviously surprised. And so were the other students in the court. They gathered near the newcomers.

"Hayama here!" exclaimed the short-haired boy.

"And Nebuya." The big, tan boy said followed by a burp.

"Geez, do I need to introduce myself, too?" Juliette scratched her head, slightly mussing her pixie-cut platinum-blond hair. "Hello. Juliette here. I'm looking for Mikaela."

Mika was instantly in front of them, parting the crowd. "Thank you so much, Yet. Tell your mother I appreciate her helping Shelter all the way from Tokyo."

"Well, you pay," replied the other girl.

"But she makes the clothes exceptionally beautiful."

Juliette smiled. "We all want what's best for Shelter. Thanks for these three, by the way."

Mika looked at the boys. She didn't recognize them. She thought Kagami and his teammates would be the ones picking up and helping Juliette.

"So, you must be Mika." The tall, beautiful boy looked down at her. "You don't look… too intimidating…"

"E-excuse me?" Why would he say that?

Mibuchi shrugged his shoulders. "On the phone, Sei-chan was saying 'for Mika-san' and 'can't disappoint Mika-san' and 'Mika-san this', 'Mika-san that.'" He looked at Mika from her toe to the top of her head. "You look rather… simple."

Her current style wasn't her true style but she still couldn't let others belittle her. Her traumatizing experience in Teiko flashed at the back of her mind. It happened like this. People putting her on a pedestal because of being Seiji's girl and then throwing her into the mud the moment they thought that the boy rejected her. They did horrible things to her because they thought she was just a nobody and hated her guts and her just being herself. Rumors flew, everybody took a bite of it, and spit it out on her. She told herself no more. But, in reality, she couldn't stop being herself and couldn't stop being with Akashi Seijuro. Now it was clear as the brightest day to her. For her passion, she would walk on Hell with her bare feet. "Is that a compliment?" she asked Mibuchi with a bite.

Surprisingly, the boy smiled. "I'm beginning to like you. Nice to meet you, Mika. You can just call me Reo. I don't know how you convinced Sei-chan but we're glad you did. We owe you one."

Seiji arrived at the scene. "It's good that you met Reo and the others, Mika-san. I asked them to help us. If they do, I'll take them back to our team."

She faced Seiji and said, "That's kind of you."

The preparations for the fashion show continued. It will be held the same day as the opening of the exhibit Fuyu invited her to attend. And that was only a handful of days away.

But Mika had one more problem…

Kuroko had asked her more than five times about the littlest things and now she was stuck with him after drawing lots on who would be on the same team. Their group was assigned to teach the kids who would be dancing in the background as the others walk their catwalk.

The boy had suggested they dance like they were dancing a slow swing. He extended his hand to Mika to show the kids how they would dance but the girl was reluctant. She was sure he could find others to dance with. But Kuroko was insistent and grabbed Mika's hand, forcing her to stand up and stand close to him. The girl tumbled toward the boy, their faces only a strand of hair away.

Mika felt repulsed.

Kuroko wounded his arm around her waist, whispering, "Remember what I told you, Risa-san?"

What? He was doing this in front of all these people?

"Stop it, Kuroko-san." Then, wriggling, she whispered, too. "I already said no. I'm sorry."

The pale boy didn't let her go. "I said I'll wait for you."

"I told you no!" She looked around them. The people were watching them. Where's Seiji? He was hammering a piece of wood on the stage. He's not watching. Good. "Please, Kuroko-san."

But he just held her tighter and called her name. What the heck? She forced herself away from him and finally losing her patience, shouted, "Stop touching me! I told you no. I'm already Seiji's girlfriend!"

The whole court went silent, like every living soul in it heard what she said and now looked at her, including Seiji. Mika blushed so hard that she felt heat emanating wildly from her face.

Kuroko looked hurt but he managed to calmly exit the place, Momoi following him.

Now, what? It was true that Seiji and she were dating officially but she didn't know if it was alright to tell others about them. What if the boy didn't want to and got angry with her? What if… they weren't actually official? What if-

The boy she loved walked toward her and placed one warm hand on her head. He asked her, "Are you alright?"

Mika could cry. "Are you?" she asked him.

"I am if you are," was his reply.

"I am," she said as she leaned her head on the boy's chest, hearing his fast heartbeat.

+0+0+0+0+

The next day, all eyes were on her again at the training camp. Every Rakuzan member was greeting her and the others were curious about her. It was not as if she hadn't caught their attention days ago. But now, Seiji and she had fed the rumors. Everybody knew they were really going out.

Though, now, she didn't cower. She held her head up high. She let the winds carry her to the top of the mountains. She was aware that the higher one flies, the more painful the fall is, she experienced it before. But she didn't care. Just like before, titles and rumors didn't matter. She'd just be herself.

Mika opened the door leading to the building's rooftop and found Seiji waiting there for her.

For him, she thought, I would risk everything for him once more.