I'm writing quickly, so I didn't comment much on the previous chapter! I really like writing from the POV of my original characters and this was very special.

This chapter has several references to Ideal Type, including about each miracle's girlfriends, but even if you haven't read it, you can understand.

I love Takao, so writing more about him was a gift.

The last chapter comes out tomorrow!

[Kuroko No Basket belongs to Tadatoshi Fujimaki]

[English isn't my first language, so please be kind]


3

Loving

Hayami P.O.V.

Eikichi had given me a sandwich as a gift for joining the basketball team. Even as a temporary manager, the boys seemed to be excited and happy to have a girl around, although Kotarō avoided congratulating me in person. He had been strange the last few days, he hadn't even given me any more flowers.

The sandwich Eikichi had given me smelled amazing, but it was too big for one person to eat alone so I ended up sharing it with the other girls in my class.

Advanced classes had been almost torture the last few days, as it was the class where Seijūrō and I shared a desk. He used to draw in my notebook when he wanted to get my attention, but he was increasingly needy this time. With each equation he solved, he drew a heart in the margin of my notebook.

Soon my notebook was full of hearts and I was embarrassed to lend it to the other girls when they asked for help. I didn't want them to think I was a silly, passionate girl.

Although now I was really in love. Just not by Seijūrō, and I think he already realized.

Omitting the match against Shūtoku was a low blow, which meant he already knew about my relationship with Takao.

Hayami: Are you okay with this?

God-Takao: Don't worry : )

I never took Takao's texts seriously to be honest, but I liked his letters, as I thought there was more sincerity in written words. I hadn't received your last letter yet and to be honest I think Seijūrō had something to do with it too.

Since I became the manager of the basketball team a few days ago, I started following Momoi's advice, so I watched all of Rakuzan's games over the last six months and studied her style of play. There wasn't much change in the main team, Seijūrō was the captain and those who played were three of the Uncrowned Kings according to Momoi, although I found those titles a bit strange.

- Generation of Miracles - I sighed, I was waiting for the printer to heat up so I could bring some important papers for the friendly games - who came up with that name?

Today would be the first day that I could enter the coach's office, from what the former manager, Higuchi, told me, I could use the second computer there to edit the videos, but I would also take the opportunity to finish a gift for a friend.

- Ha-chin! - Seijūrō arrived by surprise, whispering in my ear and giving me chills.

He smiled at my reaction, which caught the attention of other students passing through the corridors, after all, the room I was in had very large windows.

- Seijūrō, don't do that! - I warned him - people will talk.

Seijūrō nodded, but from his expression I think he didn't care if people talked or not. The Rakuzan uniform had a tie for all students, but I had swapped mine for a big bow today. Seijūrō touched the bow, then my hair.

He really wasn't worried about people talking about us.

The printer finally started working.

- Are you going to the coach's office now?

- Yes - I replied - Momoi sent me several good tips and I got Higuchi's number and he told me that there are some files on the computer, I need to study them.

Seijūrō listened attentively, but his gaze was fixed on the envelope I was holding.

- What is that?

- A gift - I replied - for Kise's girlfriend, Sana, I'm going to meet her when we arrive in Tokyo. We will have a day off before training starts because we will arrive at night, didn't you see the schedule I printed?

Seijūrō thought for a while, he seemed to ponder if I was lying, but I wasn't. That's when I was sure that he had really taken Takao's gift from me.

- I'll see you later at training then - Seijūrō said with a smile, finally leaving me alone.

Deep down I don't think he knew if he was doing something wrong or not.

I held the pendant that Takao had sent me and that I now wore every day. Soon I would see him again.

I was the first to arrive at the coach's office, it was a large room full of old Rakuzan trophies, as well as a basketball shirt from the Japanese national team and an old framed photo of the Japan national team from when coach Shirogane played. It wasn't difficult to identify which was my table as there was a large bouquet of red roses on it, carefully arranged in a transparent vase.

The gesture was nice but exaggerated, and of course I knew right away that it had been a gift from Seijūrō.

My cell phone rang, it was Takao sending me photos of the new Pokémon cards he had traded and I was surprised that I was more excited about that than the flowers.

On the day of our trip to Tokyo, I was the first to get ready, maybe because I was too excited to leave Kyoto, maybe because it would be the first time I would see Takao since the camp during Golden Week.

But it wasn't just him, it would also be the first time I would see Kise's girlfriend, Sana, after that. I wanted to talk to the other girls more during camp, but I was too scared to do that. If Takao hadn't saved me I probably would have gone home sooner.

I was killing time on the piano while Seijūrō didn't come down. We wouldn't need to go to Rakuzan, as we would meet the rest of the team at the station to catch the bullet train.

It had been a while since I played the piano, but I decided to play with some notes to pass the time. I wanted to remember the song Takao had sung to me last time, if I could call it singing. Actually his voice was horrible, but I liked it.

Makes your feel like leaping up, you say?

You remember the catal rhythm, right

I smiled after singing the first few verses, as I was replaying the scene in my head. He sang so confidently.

Even if it's just an afterimage, it doesn't matter

Future aspect!

I started laughing alone again, I would definitely ask him to sing for me when we met again. I looked at my phone, but he still hadn't responded to my last text, but there was a message from Botan, Midorima's girlfriend, in the group chat, with the lucky items of the day. I always ignored these types of messages, but I had the feeling that this time I shouldn't.

- I didn't know you liked that kind of music - Seijūrō appeared out of nowhere, making me close the piano keys in a hurry.

He was wearing simple, elegant travel clothes and was carrying two suitcases, one of them in Rakuzan colors.

- It was just something I heard - I said.

Seijūrō sat next to me on the piano bench, from his expression he didn't seem to want to talk about music.

Seijūrō took a deep breath, then took my hands and placed them on his heart.

- Hayami - he started and I quickly identified that he had trained several times before speaking to me - you were on my list.

- In yours, what?

- On my list... I mean - he stammered a little - I know that I became a bad person over the years and that I said bad things to you before we met again...

- Seijūrō, I understand now...

- Hayami! - he interrupted me - When I started the treatment I made a list of the people I had hurt and I apologized to each one, that's how I got my friends back, my team back...

This time I decided to listen in silence.

- You were on my list, I would go after you to apologize, but you appeared and our parents suddenly talked about marriage and I was surprised, but happy!

If he had said this to me months ago, when we met again, I would have called him an idiot, but now I understood him. I liked how Seijūrō's eyes had regained the sweetness they had when we were children.

- I like you - Seijūrō said - I really like you, I lov…

- But I don't feel the same - I hurried to say before he completed the sentence - not in the same way.

Seijūrō's eyes became sad and I couldn't look at them directly. His expression made me feel guilty.

- Maybe, for now - Seijūrō said.

He released me, then picked up his bags and headed out of the house.

It was already night when we arrived in Tokyo, I liked the city air more than the mountains, as it seemed more full of human life.

The hotel where the Rakuzan team would stay was very comfortable for a school standard, proving that it was indeed a classy institute. I left my bags in the room and told the coach that I would spend my day off with a friend as agreed. I also informed Seijūrō, out of courtesy, he just nodded silently, avoiding looking at me.

I think it was the first time he was rejected, but it was also the first time I rejected someone. The feeling was strange for both of us, especially when one didn't want to hurt the other.

I told Takao of my arrival via text and took a taxi to the address Sana had sent me. It was already late to catch the subway and I was afraid of getting lost and running out of time. I had a small backpack with basic things to spend the night, as well as some small gifts.

Sana was already waiting for me at the door of the house when the car pulled up. She greeted me with a comforting smile even though I still felt shy in her presence. Even though she was short, she had a great presence because of her blonde hair, not to mention that that night she wore a shirt with the print of an idol group, NCT 357.

- Another friend? - said a little boy as soon as we entered Sana's house, he must have been her younger brother-What are you going to do? Can I go?

- Only those who are my height can enter my room - Sana said - mom, if Ryōta arrives tell him to wait!

Sana ran up the stairs and I felt like I should do the same.

- Thank you for having me - I greeted her mother before going up too.

Sana's room was very different from the ones I used to have. It was colorful and fun, with idol posters on the walls. There were picture frames with photos of her and Kise next to the bed and by the desk.

I think I used to have a photo of Seijūrō kept with me when I was at boarding school. Thinking about him now made me sad.

- What are you doing? - Sana said - Come, sit with me!

I was stiff as a door, I realized when she called me. So I took off my coat and sat down next to Sana, who had pulled out a makeup bag and was starting to compare the shades of foundation on my skin.

- I don't think it's necessary.

- Of course it's necessary - Sana replied - it's your first date, you have to look beautiful.

- I think we've had a first date before.

- Eating ramen is not a date - Sana sighed. She tied her hair up to work better - I wish Aimi was here, she's better at giving love advice than me, she has two guys in her pocket, did you know that? Although I don't like either of them...

Aimi was Aomine Daiki's girlfriend, but I didn't know who was the other guy Sana was referring to.

- When Kise and I go out we go to eat at a nice restaurant, then to a photo booth, or we go to the movies, anyway, Takao has been hanging out with Kise a lot lately, they are kinda similar, but don't let him take advantage of you!

Sana continued talking about Kise, I just smiled. She was fun and talented with brushes.

- I still can't believe you're challenging Akashi like that, from what Kise told me he could, I don't know, freak out...

- Seijūrō is very different - I defended him - we are going to therapy together.

- Together? - Sana blinked - Like, couples therapy?

- What? No! It's therapy for each, separately...

Sana started to comb my hair, she had a curling machine. I think she felt embarrassed about making me mention therapy.

- He said that he would help me cover up a relationship if I fall in love with someone else... But I think he regret those words now.

- Of course he regrets it - Sana said, she held my face to make sure she had done a good job - boys are weird, but Miracles, wow, much worse.

I really wanted to see the makeup she had done, but when I tried to get a mirror, Sana hit my hand.

- Be patient - Sana said - and you can talk to me if you want, you are very quiet in the group chat.

- Sorry - I said.

- There's no need to apologize - Sana sighed again, I think she was frustrated with herself - that's why I wanted Aimi to be here, I speak without thinking!

Sana composed herself, she took a lip tint and dabbed it on my lips.

- But tell me - Sana smiled – in which area Takao better than Akashi? Kisses? Touching? Aggressively making out…

- I don't know, I haven't kissed him yet.

Sana laughed, but then she became quiet when she saw that I was serious.

- I haven't seen Takao since the Golden Week camp, I haven't kissed him yet.

Sana nodded, as pale as a ghost, she put away the lip tint and took a deep breath.

- I feel like I'm going to hell for this...

- SANACCHIIII!

It had been a while, but I remembered Kise's voice because he was very chatty at camp. He opened the door to Sana's room without any ceremony.

- Look who I brought with me! Takao was...

- WHY DID YOU GO UP WITH HIM?

Sana threw a pillow in Kise's face, then covered mine when she saw Takao behind her boyfriend.

- She wasn't ready yet!

I took Sana's hands away from my face. Takao wore the same yellow jacket as when we hung out at camp together. He said that my eyes had lit up that day and I was sure that the same thing had happened at that moment.

Perhaps butterflies in the stomach was the expression that best defined that moment.

- Are you going to stand there and stare at each other forever? - Kise said - I'm risking my life here, go have fun.

Just like Seijūrō, I wasn't the type to talk much, so I hugged Takao as soon as Kise got out of his way. I felt welcomed and safe as soon as I felt Takao's arms wrap me in a tight hug and despite the strong wood essence he used as perfume, I loved every part of him.

- It's been a long time, Ha-chin - I heard Takao say - and you're wearing the necklace I sent you!

- I wear it every day! - I said, perhaps a little too loudly, too intensely.

I still hadn't been able to let go of Takao, but then I realized that we had little time left, so I had to deliver Sana's gift now.

It was strange to pull away from his embrace. Takao was as smiling as me and his face was red, he was shaking with excitement. Sana and Kise were still in the room of course so I grabbed my backpack and took out the envelope I had prepared for Sana.

- Here, Sana, for helping me today.

She took the envelope and opened it immediately, so I hurried to explain.

- My father did an event with this group at the beginning of the year, and you said you liked them, so...

- AN AUTOGRAPHED PHOTO OF NCT 357?

- I wanted to ask the guy you liked the most, but I didn't know which one it was so…

Sana started to hyperventilate and Kise helped her to sit at the bed.

- You didn't tell me you were so rich! - Sana started talking - Have you ever been to one of their concerts? Have you met them in person? I mean...

- You guys better go now - Kise smiled - have fun and remember to take off your makeup before bed, if you're going to sleep together don't forget to...

- Control yourself Ryōta - Sana said, she looked better now, but she still clung to the photo as if her life depended on it.

Takao was rolling over laughing at the whole situation. He took my backpack and held my hand.

- Let's go for a walk.

I already knew Tokyo, but I didn't know Takao's Tokyo. As it was nighttime there weren't many tourist places open, but we managed to walk around Ueno Park and I followed Sana's advice and went to dozens of photo booths just to have more memories together.

Takao chose the most bizarre headpieces and I ended up letting him choose mine too. I would spontaneously move away when he got too close, but at the eighth photo booth place he took the opportunity to kiss me when I least expected it and only let me go when people started to complain that they also wanted to use the space.

If he hadn't guided me outside I would have remained stiff and embarrassed, but Takao walked through the line confidently, his lips stained with my lip tint.

- This is cute - I said when he brought me a cream puff in the shape of a Totoro.

We had finally stopped walking until we found a cafe that was still open. Takao remembered that I wanted to visit this place and brought me here.

His lips were no longer dirty with lip tint because I had cleaned them with more kisses. I think for a moment we looked like two crazy people kissing and smiling when we realized that our lips were more stained than before.

The cream puff was so cute that I didn't want to eat, but in the end Takao was hungry. He thinks I didn't notice, but I saw it when he took a quick photo of me in secret.

- He doesn't know you're here, does he?

The time for the difficult questions had come.

- I told the team that I would stay with Sana until tomorrow.

Takao smiled. I don't think he considered me someone capable of lying.

- But he's not being mean to you, is he Hayami?

I shook my head. Maybe I said yes in the past just out of temper, but now, after seeing how he was trying to improve, I no longer wanted to hold on to the bad words he had said to me in the past.

- Seijūrō is not a bad person - I ate some more of the cream puff.

Takao made a funny face. He didn't like me calling Akashi by his first name, but he was used to it now.

- You don't have to come to my house if you don't want to - he said suddenly - I can take you back to Sana's house.

- Do you regret inviting me? - I asked.

Takao blinked in disbelief. He said that his house would be empty, it wasn't an invitation for us to do anything much, just to stay together as long as possible and talk about everything we wanted to but had to say from a distance in the last few months.

- Of course I don't regret it - Takao left his seat and came to sit on the bench next to me, he held my shoulders tightly as if I was about to fly away - Shin-chan says I'm crazy, but I don't care, I'm in love with a pretty girl, so what?

Hearing the word 'love' made my face blush instantly, maybe more than when Takao kissed me for the first time, and we had the photos to prove it.

- I'm in love with a girl who is engaged to someone else - Takao sighed - who would have thought that?