Imperfect match // Daiki Aomine (Kuroko no Basuke)

3. Congratulations

The new week starts, the routine settles and during practice, she notices Kise often looking in her direction but Aomine seems to distract him, every time he gets too close to the separating net. Not knowing if it is all a coincidence or if Aomine is preventing Kise from heckling to allow her to practice in peace, she regardless feels a little more at ease today.

Off the court, she goes outside to refill her water bottle but when she turns around, she is faced with Kise, sweat dripping from his temples and neck, dragging his fingers through his hair and flexing his biceps doing so.

She scoffs, unable to hide her amusement as this guy, obviously trying to make an impression. She feels flattered but not susceptible to his obvious charms.

"Oh hi." He says faking surprise.

"Hi." She says walking passed him as her bottle is now full.

"Uh... What's your name?" He asks desperate to get her attention.

"You'd think if you were that interested you'd have found out by now."

"Actually I know, but I wanted to find an excuse to make conversation." She chuckles again."Ah I got you to smile! That's a start."

"I gotta go back."

"Sure. I'm Kosuke Kise!"

"Yeah I heard your coach yelling that name a lot."

"You were spying on me?" He asks pleased.

"If I was, the whole campus was, he was shouting so loudly."

"Wanna grab a drink sometimes."

"Wow! That was quick." She says stunned.

"That's not an answer."

"Then, no thanks."

"Come on! Give me a chance."

"I don't know you."

"Let's learn about each other then." She scoffs, shocked by his confidence and how corny he sounds.

"I don't date."

"That's what Aomine said."

"Aomine..." How could he know?

"My teammate, tall, dark and handsome."

"I know who he is."

"You know 'who he is'. So he said the truth, you guys don't know each other." He says thoughtfully.

"Not really. Listen I gotta go back."

"It's was a pleasure to meet you!" He says, trying to grab her hand but her quick reflex and great anticipating skills allow her to escape him, though she acts as if she hadn't seen his attempt, not to embarrass him.

Back on the court, she gets interrogated by her teammates giggling to see her come in with one of the hotties from next door.

There's no denying, he is attractive, but not her type. And he seems like he'd be into dating which she's not.

It's always been about volleyball and she's never dated, therefore feels embarrassed of her ignorance around her non existent knowledge of dating etiquette. But she's not a prude. She's had flings, hook ups, but nothing serious. A few guys from the men's volleyball teams, during various tournaments and training camps, have given her sufficient experience not to look clueless and fulfilled her sexual needs.

Looking on the other side of the net, she sees Aomine's cold stare towards Kise's cocky grin, as he dribbles the ball before running and jumping for a violent dunk. Wow, he's really powerful.

She resumes her training which goes quickly and after picking up her things she comes out finding Aomine leaning against the opened door, scrolling through his phone, as the other players walk passed him.

Is he waiting for her? Looks like he is. She catches herself smiling and shakes her head as if to try and get rid of that unwanted feeling of satisfaction.

As she passes by him, he notices and starts walking alongside her towards the sports science building. So he was waiting for her.

As they walk along the gravel path, under the canopy made by the old thick trees, the fragrance of the blossoms heated by the sun invading the air and soothing the souls, he finally breaks the silence which until now had never been an issue.

"Congrats." He drops.

She's confused as she was not expecting him to know that they won their last game.

"How did you know we won?"

"What?" Now he's confused.

"Why did you say congrats?"

"You and... Kise." He mumbles the last part but she can make out what he said before scoffing. "Why are you laughing? Did I say something funny?" He says offended.

"Yes." She looks up at his irritated expression, slightly tempted to leave it as it is, because she's a teaser, but she's not mean. "What about me and Kise?"

He sighs, obviously annoyed to have to talk more than he'd want to.

"Aren't you guys dating or something?"

She can't contain a laugh.

"Hahaha!! Is that what he said?"

"Not really in these words but that's what he implied."

She can feel her heart beating a little louder at the thought that he looks somewhat bothered by it.

"And what if we were?"

"That means you're not."

"We're not. I spoke to him for two minutes while I was filling up my water. He asked me out but I declined."

"Oh? What a twat. Why did you decline if you don't mind me asking."

"I don't date. Too much going on in my life." She says coldly thinking of her current situation "... and I want to focus on volleyball."

"I get it. Same."

She knew they were similar in that aspect, she could sense it. He, on the other hand, assumed she was popular, even though obviously dedicated to the sport, but would manage to have it all.

Her answer pleases him and he's not sure why. Too many possible reasons one of which being that even though he tolerates Kise on the court, the guy gets on his nerves since middle school when he is cocky and she seems too nice to end up with a guy like that. He appreciates her for her ethics and wants her to be with a nice guy, a guy who'd look out for her.

It's probably not easy being that tall for a woman. Especially in this country where petite and cute is idolised. Also being an athlete can be tough on relationships. He suddenly hopes she has a supporting family like he does.

"We're here." She says taking him out of his thoughts.

"Oh yeah!" Without realising it, he smiles at her.

The unexpected brightness in his expression stuns her. His usual serious stern cold face is nowhere to be seen for these few seconds before he realises what he's done from seeing her wide eyes and he quickly returns to his usual self before entering the gym.

What was this? She wonders. That was so unexpected and warm. She hopes to see it again.