My whole school life I spent my time in the shadows. I had a few friends, but none that I spent a lot of time with after school. I joined the women's baseball team this year at Touou after playing volleyball in middle school in hopes that I would make some friends while I play a different sport. After my older sister passed away a couple years ago, I didn't have much interest in making friends or being noticed by others. I have yet to spend a lot of time with my team mates, because I was sort of a ghost to them. That is until my boyfriend at the time had cheated on me. I broke up with him in the cafeteria when I found out through my acquaintance Momoi that he had been seen going to the movies with another girl. I dumped my food and my drink on his head, and proceeded to get suspended for two days. Was it worth it? Yes, and it was worth getting grounded by my parents too. Not only am I known now as the girl that dumped food on her ex, but as rumors circulate, they tend to get twisted. I'm also known as the girl who's boyfriend cheated on her with a woman twice my age. It's both disgusting and completely untrue.
I used to wish I wasn't invisible to everyone at school. But now that I'm not, I regret ever wishing I was noticed. I want to go back to being a ghost. The judging eyes burn into me as I walk the halls and make me uncomfortable. "Kaori!" A boy calls out as I walk to lunch. I roll my eyes and keep walking. He runs to catch up with me, slightly breathing heavy as he looks down at me. I've seen him in a few of my classes. His hair is short and black, his eyes a bright blue. I can't recall his name because I don't pay much attention to people at school. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to dinner with me this Friday." He smiles. I watch him from the corner of my eye, his arm reaching around me. I swiftly duck away from his grasp, smacking his arm away.
"No. And keep your arm to yourself. Next time I'll break it." I threaten with an ice cold tone. He seems taken aback. I leave him standing in shock as I walk towards the doors. I'm desperate to get away from here, at least for a second. The only place I can think of is the roof. I pull my phone and headphones from my bag, plugging them in and putting my music on shuffle.
I climb the ladder to the roof, sliding my bag off of my shoulder and shoving my phone into my pocket. I sing along to the song I'm listening to, rejoicing the fact that I'm alone, and no one can hear or see me. Though I don't understand the words to the song I'm singing, because it's English, I sing it anyways. I pronounce the words the best I can. In the midst of my enjoyment, I find myself dancing to the upbeat electronic tune.
It's not until I open my eyes at the end of the song that I see someone standing at the edge of the roof, watching me with an annoyed look. My face immediately turns red as the boy scans me up and down. I take out my headphones as he starts to speak. "Are you done? I came here to nap." He mumbles in annoyance.
I raise a brow. How could this boy be so harsh to me without meeting me? "Maybe. If you can check your attitude." I cross my arms across my chest, sending him a cold stare to match the one he gives me.
He groans, stretching his arms out over his head. The boy yawns. "I don't feel like arguing with some girl. If your singing and, whatever you were doing, matters that much, I'll find somewhere else to sleep."
"Hey!" I cry out, unfolding my arms. I stomp my foot and clench my fists. "I'll have you know that my dancing is great! And you're not the only one that wants to get away from school." I point a finger at him, narrowing my brows. "I'm sure you've heard the rumors about me."
He takes a look at me once more, then shakes his head. "I don't care about school drama, or people at school." He sounds dull. I watch him look over to my bag where my bento has fallen out, probably after I tossed it to the ground. "I might forgive you for invading my space if you let me see what you brought for lunch."
I roll my eyes. I never eat my lunch as it is. I hand the bento to him. "Help yourself."
I think I see a hint of a smile on his face as he tears it open. He doesn't look over the food for long before digging in and sitting down, crossing his legs pretzel style. "You can continue whatever you were doing." He says through a mouthful of food.
I scoff. "I'm so glad I have your permission, um...." I trail off, realizing I don't even know his name. I recognize him from the basketball team, however. I see him around Momoi a lot. "What's your name?"
"Aomine." He mumbles, not taking his eyes from the food. Aomine Daiki.... He's been friends with Momoi since I can remember. People used to think they were a couple for a while.
I smile. "I'm Kaori. And for the future, I'm going to come here again. So if you want to avoid me, you might want to reschedule."
"Reschedule?" He cries out. Bits of food fly out of his mouth and I scrunch my nose in disgust. Boys. "I've been coming here since the first day! I'm not moving my nap times, either."
I roll my eyes and flop down on the roof, crossing my legs. "Then you're stuck with me." I grin. "If I keep giving you my lunch, will you compromise and share this spot with me?"
He doesn't hesitate. "Sure. Whoever cooked this, they should continue for the future." He looks to me, motioning his pointer finger to the bento, that's already almost gone.
I smile wide, feeling warm inside at the compliment. "I cooked it, actually. So thank you." I beam with pride. I've never been recognized for my cooking. My parents work a lot, and they leave for business trips a lot. So I'm often left to cook for myself.
"You're an impressive cook." He mutters. He sets the empty box beside him, wiping his face with his sleeve and proceeding to lean back on his palms. "I've seen you around before... Are you on a sports team?" He furrows his brows together, scanning my face.
"I'm the ace of the baseball team." I beam, suddenly feeling proud of myself. "I used to play basketball a lot in my free time, so you may have seen me around parks and such."
He thinks for a moment. "Could be. So you like basketball?"
"Of course!" I grin. "I love running around the court, and scoring a point is so exhilarating! I love everything about sports." I have a lot of energy, though I don't let that off with my personality. I don't get hyped up unless I'm talking about something I enjoy. "Although, I'm a lot better at baseball than basketball. I'd beat anyone in a pitching contest, and I could score a home run with any fast pitch." I say with confidence. I have amazing hand-eye coordination, and I can tell how fast the ball is coming at me with ease. I'm a force to be reckoned with on the field.
"I'd love to see you live up to those words, Kaori." He smirks. "When's the next game?"
I raise a brow at him. "Next Monday... Are you sure? I don't see you as enjoying any other sport besides basketball."
"I don't, for the most part." He runs his fingers through his hair, heaving a sigh. "But I don't like people with mouths that are bigger than they are."
I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, signalling I need to head back inside for class. I smile to Aomine. "Trust me, I would never say something I can't live up to. You'll see next week, Dai-chan!"
He's immediately taken back, his face turning to an outraged expression. "Don't give me a nickname, we just met!" He cries out.
I wink. "I'll see you tomorrow. If you want my lunch, that is." I grab my bag, slinging it over my shoulder. I wave a goodbye to Aomine, climbing down the ladder. I'm not sure why I'm so excited for him to watch me play. My parents never come to my games, so the idea of having someone there specifically to watch me makes me overwhelmed with happiness.
*****
The following days I returned to the roof at that time, as did Aomine. His first question upon arrival for the first two days afterwards were strictly food-based. He would continuously praise my food, and we would talk about whatever came to mind. We both laid back on the roof, staring at the bright blue sky. "You said there were rumors going around about you, right?" Aomine breaks the silence.
"Yeah..." I trail off. "Why? What did you hear?" If he heard some of the things that have been circulating, I doubt he would be here. I heard from one of my team mates I supposedly got an STD from my ex... I was disgusted. In order to contract one of those you have to do something with the other person, right?
"Nothing. I was just wondering what this school could have possibly conjured up about you." He says simply, not taking his eyes from the sky.
I roll over onto my side, propping up on my elbow and resting my head in my palm. "Well, it started when I dumped food on my cheating ex in the cafeteria after Momoi told me he was seen going to the movies with another girl." I smile, remembering the shocked look on his face as I called him a liar and gave him a face full of piping hot food.
"I remember seeing that." Aomine laughs at the thought as well. "I didn't think that was you, though." He turns his head to look at me now.
"It was." I grin. "But, after that rumor got out that the girl he cheated on me with was twice my age, which wasn't true."
"Gross." He scrunches his face in disgust. "Unless she had big tits, then I'd get it."
I roll my eyes at his comment. "It gets more disgusting. People are saying that I got an STD from him now."
"Ew!" He sits up quickly and looks at me with a gaping mouth. "You don't... Do you?"
"Dai-chan!" I punch him in the arm, which hurts my hand as much as I hurt him. "Of course I don't! I didn't even sleep with him."
Daiki rubs where I hit with a frown. "Okay, sheesh... But you know, you shouldn't care much about what people say. It's high school, everyone will forget in a couple weeks."
I heave a sigh. "I hope so. I've gotten so many guys trying to talk to me because of this."
Daiki's head snaps toward me. "What do you tell them?" He asks. He watches me closely, and I give him a confused look.
"I tell them to piss off... I don't want some random guy who I've never talked to taking me on a date." I grumble. "It's weird."
"Yeah... Really weird." Daiki scratches the back of his neck, lying back down on the roof. "Those guys just care because of the rumors they hear."
I nod. That's why I didn't pay them any mind. My phone buzzes, reminding us we need to get going. Daiki and I groan with irritation in unison. He sits up, and we both reach for my phone. Our hands brush in the midst of it, and I feel my face grow hot as he quickly snatches his hand back. I shut off the alarm and shove my phone back into my pocket. "Back to the chamber of torture." I grumble. I hear a small laugh from Daiki and I feel a sense of accomplishment. He doesn't seem to smile or laugh often, so when I'm the cause of that, I can't help but feel happy.
"Hey, uh, Kaori?" Daiki stops me before we go separate ways to class. "The basketball team is entering the Interhigh prelims... I wanted to invite you to a game on Friday-"
"I'd love to!" I cut him off, thrilled that he'd ask me. I stand on my tip toes to attempt to ruffle his hair, just barely reaching. I mess up his hair slightly. "I'm honored you asked, Dai-chan! I'll definitely be there."
He huffs, fixing his hair reluctantly. "I'll look forward to it." I can see a small smile forming at the corners of his mouth, which only grows wider when we make eye contact.
"I should get to class, but I'll see you tomorrow, Daiki!" I give him a warm smile, and he nods at me.
"Have a good day, Kaori." He waves goodbye, and as I walk away I can't help but smile to myself. Daiki is the first person I feel like I've developed a friendship with. He's the last person I thought I would befriend, because when I see him around he always looks so bored and disinterested. Even with Momoi, he doesn't seem to want to be there. But with me, it's different. He actually asks me questions and seems interested in our conversations, though I'm not sure why. I appreciate every moment we've spent together. I've enjoyed myself more with him than anyone else. I overflow with excitement knowing that I'll see him tomorrow, and that we're attending one another's sports events. For once in my high school baseball career, I'm going to practice. I want to amaze Daiki.
*****
Watching basketball usually bores me, but watching Daiki play was invigorating. He has undeniable talent, and then some. Touou absolutely crushed the opposing team, as I expected within the first quarter. The difference in strength was far too great, and Touou will advance in the prelims. I leave my seat and find Daiki walking the halls. "Congratulations!" I call out to him. His attention averts to me quickly, and I can see the corners of his mouth twitching into a grin. I run up to him, flinging my arms around him. He's sweaty and warm, but I don't mind. He's taken back at first, but he hugs me back. "You guys dominated out there! And your plays were flawless!" I overflow with excitement, letting go to look up at him.
His expression seems kind of bored, as usual. "I know. I've been undefeated since middle school."
I frown. "So none of the games you've played have been challenging?" I raise a brow. He starts to walk toward the exit, and I walk next to him.
"No one can match my strength. That game you just watched? I didn't even give my all. I don't think I'll ever find someone that can make me put effort into a game." He sounds disappointed when he says this. I know he loves basketball, because if he didn't he would have quit long ago. I sort of feel for him, because that's why I quit playing volleyball and didn't join it this year. I got too good, and I didn't love the sport anymore. So I started practicing baseball over the summer. I pick up things easily and perfect them quickly. I became the ace of the team very fast, and I fell in love with playing the sport. The thrill of running to the bases and sliding to home before getting struck out, it's invigorating.
I frown, looking up at him. "Someone will come around and test your strength, Daiki. You just have to be patient." I smile, trying to be optimistic for him. "It could be this year, for all you know!"
He sighs. "I don't know. Maybe."
I change the subject quickly, seeing as he's not very interested in it. "We should go get milkshakes to celebrate your win!" I exclaim. "I'll buy."
His face lightens up a bit and he nods. "I'm in."
*****
When we got our food at Maji Burger before I could get money from my bag, Daiki ended up paying for our drinks, and his food. We talked for so long that we had lost track of the time, and the workers warned us that they would be closing soon. That night he walked me home, and I could feel the mood between the two of us changing. He didn't seem bored when I would ramble about certain topics. He would listen to me intently, and sometimes ask questions. That weekend I got invited by Momoi go shopping with the two of them. She claimed he'd be more willing to go if he knew I was coming. I reluctantly went, sort of excited to go shopping with Momoi and Daiki. This must mean I've made two new friends. While shopping Momoi and I walked around the mall, excitedly going through stores and picking out clothes for one another. Daiki trudged behind us, complaining most of the time and asking when we would get to the food court.
However the excitement from the weekend came to an end Monday, when I realized that my game was today. I've never gotten nervous before a game, but knowing that Daiki will be watching is making me strive to do the best I can and give it my all. When I actually show up to the game early, my teammates are in shock. "What're you doing here so early, Kaori?"
I shrug, grabbing my bat from my bag. "I figured I'd actually go all out in this game." I twirl the bat in my hand, heading towards the field. A basket of baseballs already sits from practice earlier that day. I swing the bat a few times before actually grabbing a ball and tossing it into the air. I hit it dead on, and the ball soars across the field. I repeat the process and each time I don't miss the ball. I'm filled with confidence, just in time for the seats to fill up and for the opposing team to arrive.
I end the game with four home runs, and I even sent a ball completely out of the stadium as well. I struck out all but one person I pitched to. My opponents sent curve balls, high balls, and even fast ones at me. None can get past my close eye. I definitely put my all into the game. Daiki finds me after the game as the crowd flows out of the stadium. "Kaori! You were so cool out there!" He exclaims. I've never seen him this excited, so I'm taken back.
I laugh nervously. "You really think so?" I scratch the back of my neck, looking at my feet.
"Yes! You hit a home run each time you were up to bat, and no matter what they threw at you, you saw through it!" He makes elaborate motions with his hands. "That curve ball, you were like swish! with the bat, and woosh! with that pitch! It was like I blinked and the ball was already in the umpire's mitt!"
I can't help but laugh at how excited he's gotten over me playing. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself then." I can feel my cheeks turning red, flattered at the fact that I amazed him. Daiki is a very aloof and laid back person, for him to be excited over something I did? I can't believe it. "Um, my parents are away on a business trip, if you want to come back to my place for something to eat..." I trail off, not sure where I was going with the sentence.
He raises a brow. "Sure." The corners of his mouth twitch into a smile as I throw my bag over my shoulder, and we both walk towards the direction of my house.
After I made food for the both of us, I show Daiki the place I go to relax. My roof. I grab a blanket and lay it across the roof. The two of us lay down beside one another, taking a deep exhale as we stare up at the sky. "If you could have any power, Daiki, what would you pick?" I ask, not looking away from the stars in the sky.
He thinks for a moment. "Time control. I could get hours of sleep, and resume time as if nothing happened." He says it so simply, as if he's thought this through completely. "You could pause time, zoom past someone on the court, and bam! You win the game easily." He hesitates. "I wouldn't need a power for winning though. I already have that ability." He scoffs.
I laugh, pondering the possibilities of powers I could have. "I would want to have the power to teleport. If I'm late for school? No worries! I can just teleport there. And you wouldn't have to worry about plane tickets!" I exclaim.
A small snicker comes from Daiki. "Do you think you could teleport to space, though?"
"Oh, you bet!" I sit up, excitement flowing through me at the thought of going to space. "I'd teleport to a spaceship on the moon! Astronauts would be in for such a treat." I grin. The thought of leaving the atmosphere gives me a thrill. I want to explore the world and then some. Knowing there's stuff outside this Earth that we can't touch or see, it's fascinating. I can feel Daiki's eyes on me as I stare up at the twinkling stars, but I don't mind. "It's so beautiful out here, don't you think?" I turn back to look at him, and he wears a content smile.
"It's breathtaking." He smiles at me, and my heart begins to race. I can't ignore how he makes me feel. The way he makes my stomach do flips and the way I get lost in our conversations... It gets stronger everyday. I turn my attention back to the sky, laying back down on the blanket. "Kaori, do your parents travel often?" He asks.
"Yeah." I sigh. "That's how I became such a good cook. I've had to cook for myself for a while."
"They'd leave you by yourself even as a child?" Daiki seems exasperated at this.
I giggle slightly, turning on my side to look at him. He's already watching me, his hands folded behind his head. "No, of course not. My older sister used to be here to stay with me..." I trail off, not wanting to drag the mood down.
He furrows his brows together. "Where is she now?" I swallow hard, looking away and back up at the stars. I'm not sure if I should tell him or not... I haven't really opened up to anyone about my sister's death. I hardly talked to my parents about it, let alone someone I met a week ago. Daiki senses something's wrong, because he clears his throat. "If it's a hard topic, you don't have to answer me, Kaori."
I heave a sigh. I want to tell him, though. "She died a couple years ago. I was fourteen at the time."
"Oh... Um, I'm... Sorry you had to go through that." His tone is solemn.
I shake my head. "It's fine. I'm okay." I laugh nervously. In the midst of my thinking, I must have gripped the blanket for some sort of release or comfort. My knuckles are white and the blanket is crumpled. I hear Daiki sigh, and I can feel him scoot closer to me. I feel a sudden warmth on my hand, his hand slipping in mine. He intertwines our fingers without a word, and I don't dare to say anything either. I just squeeze his hand. I assume this is his way of comforting me. Words don't seem to be Daiki's forte. "Thank you." I whisper. I'm not exactly sure what I'm thanking him for. For being the first real friend I've had, or for giving me some sort of comfort... I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm grateful. He squeezes my hand tight. I can feel the warmth radiating from him, warming me in the cold night air. Exhaustion from my game is setting in, and with the warmth of Daiki next to me and the comfort of my own home, I can't fight my eyes as they force themselves closed.
*****
As Winter draws closer and closer, Daiki and I do the same. The three of us, including Momoi, have become really good friends. I feel like I belong somewhere finally. Baseball season is over, just in time for the basketball team to start practicing for the Winter Cup. Daiki skips practice to spend time on the roof with me. He doesn't seem to care for practice, because he claims he doesn't need it. I don't think he does either, seeing his true strength during the Interhigh. He claims even then, he didn't give it his all. This weekend, I invited Daiki to my house. The air between the two of us is different lately. I obviously have feelings for him, and I think he's felt the same for a while too. Neither of us have yet to make the first move or come out to the other, so if he doesn't do so tonight, I'll take it upon myself.
I sing along and dance to a song I play while I finish cooking food for the both of us, using my spoon as a microphone. I whirl around mid-song to see Daiki watching me with a content smile spread on his face. "Daiki!" I jump, throwing the spoon I held into the air. It lands on the ground with a loud crash, and Daiki muffles a laugh. "You can't sneak up on me like that." I frown. "What if I were in my underwear or something?"
Daiki smirks. "That'd be a sight worth seeing." My face heats up as I pick up the spoon I had dropped, tossing it into the sink. I make a plate for him, and one for myself too.
"Since you picked the movies last weekend, I picked the movies this weekend." I smile, excited to see his reaction to the movies I chose. He follows me to the living room. The play screen sits, showing the name of the movie: High School Musical.
"A musical?" He groans, sitting down on his usual place on the couch.
I sit down beside him, grabbing the remote. "Yes, a musical. No complaining, either! I didn't complain when you chose a movie from the '50s with Marilyn Monroe in it." I point out. He heaves a sigh, knowing that I'm right. I press play and the two of us silently enjoy our food as the movie starts.
After we both finish eating, I take our dishes to the kitchen and shut off all of the lights. I grab a blanket from the back of the couch. When I offer some to Daiki, he shakes his head. "I'm warm enough." He waves a dismissing hand at me, not taking his eyes from the screen. He seems to be enjoying the movie, which makes me warm inside. I snuggle into my spot on the couch, enveloping myself in my blanket. It's dark and Daiki isn't paying attention to what I'm doing... Now's my chance. I lay my head on his shoulder, his body radiating warmth to my cheek. He tenses for a moment, and I can feel him look down at me. Daiki's arm wraps around my shoulder though, making me more comfortable. While the movie plays, I end up singing every song. Needless to say, I love these movies. Daiki doesn't seem to mind that I sing, seeing as I do it all the time anyway. The feeling of being so close to him makes my heart race. I don't want this moment to be interrupted. I could fall asleep being held so close to him. I wrap my arm around his torso, hugging him closer. My face burns, and I silently thank that I turned off the lights so he can't see my bright red face. Daiki seems to relax in my touch, exhaling deeply and putting his feet on the coffee table.
By the end of the movie I could feel myself drifting to sleep, but the ending credits woke me from my daze. I pull away from Daiki, the both of us stretching in unison. He yawns, which causes me to yawn as well. "Did you like it?" I ask with a hopeful look.
He gives me a small smile. "I did. Are there more?"
"Two more! We can watch them, if you want? The other two are a lot better," I explain excitedly. Daiki watches me intently. "The last one is the best by far. It captures the struggle of not knowing what you want to do in life, and Troy and Gabriela experience more relationship issues." I wiggle my brows at the last part.
Daiki snorts. "I'd love to watch them with you." He says calmly. He holds eye contact with me, his eyes flitting to my lips and back to me. I wait for him to make a move. He takes me by surprise when he grabs my face, pulling me to his. The kiss is hesitant at first, but I quickly kiss him back. This is what I've wanted since we became friends. Our lips move in sync, both of us breathing heavy. I'm caught between wanting to keep going and stopping before this goes too far. I guess Daiki thought the same, because he pulls away. His hands have dropped to my shoulders. This time he smiles wide, his eyes twinkling even through the light of the TV. I can't help but smile and laugh nervously at what just happened. My face is probably bright red. "Sorry if I uh... Took you by surprise..." He drops his hands to his sides.
I shake my head. "It's okay. I've wanted you to do that for a long time, actually..." I look down at my lap.
"Me too, Kaori." He wipes his palms on his pants and clears his throat.
"Movie number two!" I exclaim, breaking the tension. "Shall we?" I ask him with a giddy grin, and he simply nods.
"Bring it on."
Shortly after that night Daiki and I decided to start dating. Momoi was the one to call it first, as she always said we would when the three of us were together. It's the first couple of days at school as we're open with the fact we're together, holding hands in the hallway, brief kisses, the usual. It's been about a month since I broke up with my ex in the cafeteria, and a month of ignoring his constant texts and phone calls. Once I started getting close with Daiki, it seems he realized that I really was done with him. But it seems that he doesn't take the hint, because when I open my locker that day, it's filled with roses. "Daiki! Did you do this?" I exclaim, looking at him with an excited grin. Though he doesn't look happy. In fact, he seems furious, as he's let go of my hand to clench his fists.
"It wasn't me." He says through gritted teeth. I tilt my head at him in confusion. It takes a moment for it to click when I see my favorite types of chocolate sitting in my locker buried under the roses. I pick up the chocolates, and on it reads a note: Meet me after school at our old spot if you feel the same.
I start to match Daiki's fury. "Does he not understand that I'm with you now?" I throw the chocolates onto the ground, my shouting causing everyone to look towards me. I hop up and down on the chocolates. "I. Don't. Want. You!" I scream out with every jump. I can hear a small snicker coming from Daiki. He's been good at keeping his calm over this whole thing. I've had him respond to multiple texts from my ex, but he doesn't seem to care. He wants me back. I heave a sigh and pick up all of the roses and the chocolates. There were at least thirty. I throw them into the garbage.
"This guy is pissing me off, Kaori. We have to do something..." His fists are clenched tightly, his knuckles turning pale. "If he keeps doing this shit I'll kill him."
I think for a moment. Our usual spot is by the river downtown. We used to sit on the fence and talk for hours. "I'll meet him at our usual spot like he said, and I'll make sure he gets it through his head." I reassure Daiki, grabbing his balled up fist. He exhales deeply, intertwining his fingers with mine.
"I hope so. Because you're my girlfriend. He lost his chance." He seems more calm now that I've reassured him, but I can tell how jealous this is making him. This is infuriating to me too, however. Before Daiki and I started getting serious about our feelings toward the other, I didn't mind the texts from my ex. I would block his number, block him on social media, and so forth. But he continued to find a way to harass me. This will come to an end tonight after school. I'm sure of it.
*****
When I arrive at our old spot, Shou sits on the wooden fence already. His eyes meet mine and my stomach drops. His smile makes me want to shove him off of the fence and into the water. I stand beside him, crossing my arms across my chest. He opens his mouth to speak, but I stop him. "This is the last time I'll tell you this, Shou. So are you listening?" I look him the eye, my tone firm and stern. I'm making my point clear, and if it doesn't get through to him, I fear Daiki may step in. Shou nods. "I don't want to be with you. You broke my heart and you ruined the one chance you ever had. If you ever make a romantic advance towards me again, I won't let it fly." I glare at him now, recalling the thirty roses he put in my locker. "If you love me so much, you should've shown it when we were together instead of giving love that was supposed to be for me, to some other girl. I didn't deserve that, Shou. I loved you with all I had."
"I'm so sorry, it was a mistake-"
"A mistake that can't be taken back. So don't you ever get an idea that I may want you back. Because I don't. Am I clear?"
"Kaori... Just listen to me, I love you! I always have," his face contorts with sadness, his eyes welling with tears. "I regret what I did... It eats me up everyday."
I roll my eyes. "You won't convince me." I decide to sit beside him on the fence, and put a hand on his shoulder. "I do forgive you for what you did. I met someone because of that." I smile at him, and he looks up to me with a small smile.
"You forgive me?" He sounds hopeful. I nod. Before I can blink I feel his lips on mine. I shove him back so hard that he wobbles on the fence.
"Shou, what the hell?" I scream.
"You said you forgave me." He frowns.
"And that I met someone else! Do you not understand that I have a boyfriend? A boyfriend that's so much better than you ever were, might I add." I'm fuming now, jabbing his chest with my fingernail. "He makes me feel loved and he makes me happy! Two things you could never do, and oh, don't even get me started on how great he is-" Something hits my cheek, causing it to sting. I bite my tongue in the process, my head tilted to the side and my jaw gaping. My mouth fills with the metallic taste of blood.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! I don't know what I was thinking..." Shou stands up on the wooden slats of the fence, but I stop him.
"You crossed a line." I'm even more furious than before. He had no reason to hit me. I may have provoked him, but I couldn't see another way to get it through his thick skull. I lift my leg and kick him in the stomach. Hard. He cries out in pain, clutching his stomach. He stumbles on the fence and I watch him splash into the water. I fight the urge to laugh at him as he curses, pulling himself out of the muddy, shallow waters. "Don't look at me, don't speak to me, and don't you ever touch me again. My boyfriend isn't the only person you have to be afraid of." I climb off of the fence. His face has dropped as he stands in the water. I think he gets it.
When I get back to my house, Daiki waits for me outside. He leans up against the side of my home, sleeping soundly. He truly can sleep anywhere. I touch his shoulder, leaning over to whisper in his ear. "Daiki!" I shout. He sits up quickly, his head smacking mine in the process. I'm knocked backwards onto my butt, clutching my forehead.
"Babe I'm so sorry! I just reacted!" He rushes to my side, but I just let out a laugh. I heave a sigh of relief. After the encounter with my ex, it feels good to be with someone I'm comfortable with. His concerned expression just grows deeper when he sees the redness of my cheek. "What the hell happened?" His voice is low and threatening.
I smile, remembering how well I defended myself. "He tried to kiss me, and in response I got mad, as I do." I shrug. "He slapped me, and I kicked him in the stomach. He fell into the water, and I warned him that you're not the only person he should be afraid of."
Daiki doesn't seem to be any less angry though. "He hit you?" I can almost see the steam rolling off of him, his teeth gritted in anger. He stands quickly and starts to walk. Shit. I run after him, grabbing his arm. He just shakes me off and continues to stomp down the street. I stop him the only way I know how. I jump on his back, covering his eyes with my hands. "Damn it, Kaori, get off of me!" Daiki roars. "I'm gonna kill this kid!" He pries my hands off of his eyes and continues to walk.
I karate chop the top of Daiki's head. "You're not going to do anything, Aomine Daiki! I took care of it." I put my fist on top of his hand and push down, twisting it. "Stop walking you navy blue bastard!"
"Ow!" He cries. He slides me off of his back, turning to look at me with a frown. "Are you sure you took care of it?"
I laugh. "Daiki, you should've heard how hard I kicked him. I think I heard him throwing up as I walked away." That brings a small smile to his face. "And plus, he fell into muddy water. He was filthy, Daiki! He had to walk home like that." I laugh mid-sentence just looking back at the look on his face. I grab Daiki's hands, kissing his knuckles. "I'm strong, babe. I can defend myself, although I appreciate you wanting to stand up for me."
His frown turns into a pout as he sighs deeply. "Okay, Kaori. I trust you." He pulls me into his embrace, hugging me tightly. He doesn't say he cares about me, but by the small things he does, I know how he feels. I love the posts he makes about me on social media, the stuffed animals he wins in crane machines for me, and when he watches my favorite things without complaining.
I pull away from him only a little to look up at him, his arms slinking around my waist. "Can I tell you something?"
"Hm.. Is it something good?" He asks.
"It's just that... I'm in love with you. Nothing special." I wink, giving him a toothy grin.
I watch his mouth twist into a smile as his grip on my waist tightens, pulling me closer. "Me too, Kaori."
I furrow my brows together. I want him to actually say it. I push him a little. "You're in love with yourself too? I knew that already." I play dumb, tilting my head to the side.
Daiki grumbles. "I'm... in love with you, too." He says quietly. I smile so wide my cheeks hurt. I stand on my tip toes to kiss him deeply. He kisses back instantly, a small hum coming from his throat when we break apart, his eyes still shut. Though it's still early in the relationship, I have a feeling this is a start of something good. We balance one another out really well. I feel like I've finally found peace and happiness in my life, something I longed for since my relationship with Shou started to decline. I have a feeling this will last. The happiness I feel when I'm with him is something I can't put into words.
*****
After losing to Seirin, Daiki became a lot more focused on basketball. Now that he knows there are still people out there that he can battle at full strength, I think it's driven him to work harder. And that he has. We've finished our second year of high school, and Daiki has joined a street basketball team this summer with the Miracles, Kagami, and Kuroko. They plan to beat a team named Jabberwock, from America. They came to Japan and threatened our street teams with their undeniable strength and harsh play. We walk down the street to the gym they use for practice. Daiki and I stopped for ice cream on the way, the two of us trying to finish our cones before we arrive. I contently ride on Daiki's back, my legs locked around his torso tightly. I hold myself up by his shoulders. I watch my ice cream start to drip in the beating UV rays of summer. Before I can open my mouth to warn my boyfriend, a scoop of ice cream slides onto his head. He quickly shakes his head, and I immediately slide off of his back so he can freak out more freely. I hide a laugh as the scoop falls off of his head and splashes to the ground. He touches his head, then turns to me with an exasperated expression. "Kaori!' He screams, dragging out the vowels in my name has he throws his arms into the air. He throws his ice cream cone onto the ground in his outrage. "I'm going to be so sticky because of you! How could you miss it falling onto my head?" He shouts. I have to chew on my lip to fight the laughter that builds up.
"I-I'm sorry.... Babe it just happened..." My snickering comes out when I speak, and Daiki looks at me with a frown.
"My hair is all sticky now!" He cries. "I can't believe this. And now I don't have ice cream!" He scoffs.
I sigh. "You can have mine. And," I pull a bottle of water from my bag. "Rinse your hair with this."
A small smile forms on his face as he takes the water. "Aw, Kaori... I love you." He kisses the top of my head, cracking open the bottle of water.
*****
After I began my third year of high school, my parents decided that I was old enough to take care of myself, as I had done it for all of these years as it is. They claimed they bought a place in the next town over, and they left the apartment to me. I love living alone, and Daiki basically lives here now. His parents don't seem to mind that he stays here, they just want him to come home after school to eat dinner with them. Part of me hates eating alone, but I understand that Daiki is close to his parents, since he's an only child.
When Daiki comes home I'm finishing up cleaning the apartment. I sing along to the music that plays and dance around the living room in my underwear and his old Touou basketball jersey from our first year of high school. Daiki exhales loudly as he takes off his shoes and coat. He even slips off his jeans, kicking them off in the doorway. I laugh, "Long day?" I ask.
"Something like that." He mutters. Daiki looks to me, his exhausted expression seeming a little livelier as his arms wrap around me, pulling me into a tight hug.
"Are you okay?" I ask, hugging him back tightly, relishing in his warmth and the comforting smell of his cologne.
"I am now." He pulls away to look down at me, kissing my nose.
"Well," I rest my head on his chest again, squeezing my arms around him. "If you want to talk about it I'll be here to listen to you."
He shakes his head. "My parents don't agree with some of the decisions I've made." His hand rubs my back soothingly. "But I don't care."
I pull away to look at him, obviously confused. "What decisions? Do your parents not like me?"
He gives a small scoff. "Not that... I just-" Daiki shakes his head. "You'll find out soon, okay?"
My brows knit together in confusion and I pull away from him completely. "Is it a surprise for me?" He's very good at keeping secrets. Daiki just shrugs, trudging across the room to grab his jeans he had kicked off. He disappears into our room, leaving me to ponder what he could possibly be planning.
For our second year anniversary, Daiki takes me to my favorite restaurant. It's extremely expensive so we only got to go once with money my parents had given me, but this time, he insists he's going pay. Daiki showed up to the restaurant with a very large bouquet of flowers and my favorite candy too. I bought him a very nice and expensive watch, because he seems to always arrive late to functions. But tonight, he was right on time with a wide smile on his face. "Happy anniversary, babe." He kisses my lips gently before taking a seat across from me. "I can't wait to give you your gift, so I'm going to give it to you now." He grins, though his aura has turned anxious. Daiki pulls a box from his pocket. "I'm not proposing or anything." He laughs nervously, scratching the back of his neck as he hands the box to me. "But I am promising that I will, someday." I open the box to see a beautiful stone that's turquoise, my birthstone. It's surrounded by two other white diamonds, the band silver. "I uh, had to guess the ring size... So we can take it to get fitted-" I slide it on, and it fits perfectly. I look at it under the lights with a bright smile.
"I love it, Daiki!" I smile, leaning across the table to kiss him multiple times. "This is beautiful, and I promise that we'll get married someday."
I reach under my chair and give him my present, put in a small bright blue bag with tissue paper. "Aw, Kaori, you didn't have to..." He tries to hide his excitement as he rips into the bag, tossing the paper onto the floor like a child. He opens the larger box to reveal a gold watch. His jaw drops. "How much did you spend on this, babe?"
I shake my head. "Probably as much as you spent on this ring." The two of us had gotten jobs in our second year for a sense of independence. I work at a small retail shop, and Daiki works in a sports store, shockingly.
Daiki puts on the watch and beams at it under the lighting of the restaurant. "I love it! Now I won't be late to everything." He grins at me from across the table.
I hope when I'm older I can look back on this moment. I want to be able to remember the way I felt when Daiki and I first kissed. The butterflies I still get when he smiles at me, the way my heart races when he kisses me. I want to remember it all.
And most of all, I want to remember him.
*****
After high school, Daiki got recruited by the NBA team the Cleveland Caviliers. I'm moving with him to America for training camp in a month. He's attending the same school as Kagami, who got recruited his second year of high school. I'll be going to a college in America with a scholarship with softball (what they call women's baseball). I'm still undefeated and continue to get better at the sport. Until we can move, however, I'm working as much as I can to have money to transfer to US dollars. It's towards closing time, and the store is getting slow with customers. I walk around, refolding clothes that have gotten messed up, and putting things back where they belong. The bell on the door rings, and I whirl around expecting a customer. A man with a gun walks in, aiming the gun at me as he locks the door. "Don't try anything and I won't shoot." His voice is low and threatening. I nod slowly, watching as he walks through the store. He slips up and takes an eye off of me, and I run to the cash register. I pull a bat out from underneath the counter that I keep there in case of a time like this. I grab it just in time for him to turn to me.
The gunshot is louder than I expected. It makes my ears ring and I'm crying out in agony before I can process what had happened. My hands hold my chest that gushes with blood, my lungs constricting and struggling to fill with air again and again. I slink to the ground as the man steps over me, punching the register open and shoving money into a bag. "You won't... Get away." I say through my struggle to breathe. My phone lays on the counter, and so does the landline. The man sees my eyes, and he shoves my phone into his pocket and rips the cord off of the landline phone. Now what? I start to think of Daiki as I realize I might die here. What will he do? I won't be there to see him succeed.
"I won't leave you to die, sweetheart. Just suffer a little bit." I don't want to die. I want to see Daiki one last time. I want to hear his voice. I want to see his smile. I want to hear him laugh at my jokes. I want to tell him I love him. The man's sinister laugh however is the last thing I hear before my eyes force themselves shut.
*Aomine's POV*
I had been sleeping soundly when I get a call from a random number. It's late, and I notice that Kaori isn't home yet, either. My heart immediately begins to race as I put the two pieces together. I sit up and answer the phone. "Aomine, come to the hospital." It's her father.
"Wh-Why?" I ask, standing up. I turn on the bedside lamp as I put on pants, holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder. "Is Kaori okay?"
"We don't know. Just come." He says. And with that he hangs up. Her dad never cared for me much, but he sounds distressed. He's not one to show much emotion. I slip on a shirt as well, cramming my phone into my pocket and grabbing my car keys.
I make the drive quickly, and I was lead to a waiting room for surgery. Her parents explain that her store was robbed, and in an attempt to defend herself, the man shot her. It could be hours before her surgery is completed, therefore hours before I know if she'll live or not. I twirl the watch on my wrist that she had gotten me a year ago for our anniversary. I can't bare to never see her again...
I must have fallen asleep in the waiting room, because a door clicking shut wakes me. Kaori's parents are looking to a man who appears to be the surgeon. "The bullet just barely missed your daughter's heart... We were able to get it out but she's not doing well." He explains solemnly. It feels like someone punched me in the stomach. I can't breathe.
"So... She's going to die?" I croak.
The doctor looks to me with a sigh. "We can do all we can to prolong her life and make her comfortable... But the bullet damaged her lungs. It's making it difficult for her to breathe properly." It feels like I got shot too. I feel nauseous, like I'm going to puke. It feels like someone is squeezing all of the air on my insides and twisting my heart strings in a knot. I try to imagine life without Kaori in it completely. I don't like what I see. I stand up, leaving the room despite the questions from her parents. I throw up into the nearest trash can, finally able to at least breathe. She can't die. She has so much going for her... I want to see her be the greatest softball player in America. I want to see her in a wedding dress, walking down the aisle to marry me. But most of all, I want to see her. A life without her is a dark one with lack of light and happiness. She's been my positive energy for three years, my motivation. She's pushed me to achieve so many things. Without her I would have quit basketball... Quit school. I do the only thing I know. I call an old friend as I walk towards the exit. "Midorima?" I ask.
"Nanodayo." He grumbles in a grumpy tone. I probably woke him up, but I don't care. This is urgent.
"You still have um... Powers right?" I ask, not sure what I should and shouldn't say in the middle of this hospital.
"Yes. What's it to you?" He asks.
"Listen... This is an emergency. Can you bring back humans from the dead?"
The line goes silent for a moment. "I can't play fate, Aomine."
"Shit. What if uh, what if I sacrifice something? Like my life, or-"
"I will not let you give up your life for someone else's, Aho!" He shouts over the line. He hesitates for a moment as I walk into the parking lot and towards my car. "Who are we talking about, exactly? It's not Kaori is it?"
I sigh, feeling a gaping hole in my chest that aches every time I breathe. "We are."
He doesn't speak for a long time, but I hear pages being flipped as if he were looking through a book. "Is she dead?"
"No, but she's struggling... The doctor doesn't know if she'll make it." I feel a lump forming in my throat as my voice starts to shake. I can't bare the thought of her being gone.
"I can't play the path fate has intended... But I can get around it in a way, if you're up for it." Midorima explains. "She'll live, and she'll be healthy, but... She won't remember anything that has to do with you."
I feel a large twinge of pain in my chest. I won't be able to kiss her, or hug her... I won't even be able to hear her laugh. But she'll live. She'll be happy, nonetheless. "She'll remember that she's going to go to America to play softball, right?"
"Yes. She will remember her life in school, too. But anything to do with you, it will be a gray area that her mind will never be able to recall." He clears his throat. "She won't know who you are, and you won't be able to interact with her once she's alive, or fate will take over."
I want her to live. That's the only thing I want more than anything... She deserves to live, even if she has to live without me, she won't experience the pain of ever losing me. "I'll do it." I say before I change my mind.
"I'll meet you at the hospital tomorrow afternoon. Make sure no one else is in the room, of course." Midorima says. "You're sure about this, Aomine?"
"I don't want her to die."
"Okay. Get some sleep." Midorima doesn't give me a chance to respond, he just hangs up. That's the most caring he's ever been towards me. All of my friends are aware how much I love Kaori. I sit in my car, scrolling through pictures on my phone. I think of all the memories that Kaori will never be able to look back on. She won't know what happened on our first date. She won't know that she promised herself to me, and I her. I don't try to stop the tears that fall. I stop when I see a picture of Kaori that I took when she wasn't watching, as I do always. She's singing, of course. She clutches her chest as she belts out a note, her heart and body into the song. I can't help but smile. I want her to be happy. She can't be happy if she's not alive. Though this decision will bring me pain that I don't think I'll ever move on from, I think it's worth it.. If Kaori can live a happy life, I hope I can find the ability to be happy too.
*****
I meet Midorima at the hospital that afternoon after asking her parents if I could have some alone time with her when I visit. When I enter her hospital room, Midorima stays outside. "I'll give you a few minutes to say what you need." He closes the door behind me, and I'm left alone. I stare at Kaori as she lays in the hospital bed. She's attached to so many cords and monitors I can't help but want to rip them all out of her and carry her home. There's a tube down her throat to help her breathe. I see they left her ring on her finger, though I can spot splotches of blood on it still. I lose it then and there, standing over what was supposed to be my future wife. I choke on a sob, lacing her fingers with mine. Squeeze my hand. Her hands are cold, as usual. "You won't remember me when you wake up, Kaori..." I trail off, trying to speak through my tears and shaking voice. "But you're the only woman I'll ever love." I squeeze her hand tightly, putting it to my lips. "All I've ever wanted is for your happiness... I never thought I'd have to go to such a length for that though." I kiss her cold, frail hand and reach my other hand to brush her hair back from her face. My fingers trail her jawline, some of my tears dripping onto the blanket that covers her body. "You've made my life so bright since the day we met... I hope someone will do the same for you later on in your life, Kaori." I slide the promise ring off of her finger, twirling it in my hand. "I'll never forget you." My voice has become a shaky whisper, and it seems the tears keep coming. "I promise." I kiss her forehead, sniffling as I put her ring in my pocket. I sigh, trying to compose myself. I wipe my eyes and open the door.
Midorima puts a hand on my shoulder. "You're still sure about this?"
I roll my eyes. "Yes. Let's do this."
He nods. "When this works, she'll probably sit up straight and start gagging on the tube. So we'll need to book it out of here before she sees us, okay?" He asks, making sure I understand. I nod. "We'll tell the doctors we were visiting when all of a sudden she woke. Easy enough?"
"Yeah." I grow more nervous now that he's actually going through with it. He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he stands over Kaori. His hands hover flat over her body, his eyes shut as he breathes steadily. Kaori's body starts to lurch upwards on the bed. I take a step back, not sure if I want to keep watching. But I can't look away. Her hips raise up off of the bed, then back down. It's as if someone tied a string to her and lifted her up. She lies still now, and Midorima gets inches from her face. He whispers a few words before standing back. Kaori sits up straight in the bed, and Midorima grabs my arm as monitors begin to beep incessantly. Doctors are already running down the halls towards her room when we exit.
"What happened?" A nurse asks as doctors flood the room.
"I-I don't know, she just.. Woke up." I say, trying to hide how nervous I am. I peer around the corner enough to hear her voice.
"Where am I?" She asks. I want to run in there. I want to hug her and tell her exactly where she is and what happened... I want to feel her embrace. Something hits the back of my head. Midorima threw a cup from one of the medicine carts at me.
"Let's go." He mouths. I follow him reluctantly. Where do I go from here?
*****
Adjusting to life without Kaori is one of the hardest things I've done. I had to unfollow her on everything, delete every picture of her on social media, and inform her parents that when she woke up, she didn't know who I was. I couldn't tell them what really happened, so I made up a lie that they seemed to believe.
As for my career, I play for the Cleveland Caviliers. I still go to watch Kaori play in college, although she doesn't recall me, I watch every single game. She's still so amazing at softball. I put her ring on a chain and it hangs on my mirror in my bedroom. I have not taken off the watch she bought me since the day she gave it to me, only to shower and sleep.
Sometimes I contemplate if I made the right choice. Would she have lived if I hadn't? I'm sure she wouldn't have. I still can't help but grieve. I would give up every tomorrow I have to be able to relive one memory with her. I want to relive the first moment we kissed.
I want to relive the moment I realized I was in love with her as she danced in her kitchen cooking dinner for the two of us and as she sang along to her favorite movies, High School Musical. I didn't care for the movies at all, but seeing that smile on her face was enough to make me want to watch them with her until the day I died. I wonder if she still loves watching them. I wonder if she still loves to sing and dance, and if she still scrunches her nose in disgust when she smells onions, or when she tastes something she doesn't like.
I would give up anything to relive a moment with her. Not only did I lose someone I was going to marry, but I lost part of me. I'm not sure if I can be the same if I have to live with every single memory of Kaori, while she lives her life never knowing I existed.
She doesn't know that I love when she wears blue, because it brings out her eyes. She doesn't know that I love how she says my name in the morning, when she's still waking up.
And more than anything, she doesn't know that my heart will always belong to her.
