Imperfect match // Daiki Aomine (Kuroko no Basuke)

23. Stupid

Walking back to the villa on the beach, the scorching heat making it clear that it is summer, the rushing waves teasing her to jump in and cool down, she thinks, looking at her trainers digging in the wet sand. Maybe she should just go home. Coming here was a mistake. He probably realised he wanted to spend time with his friends, and she's here, making it awkward for him. She feels a ball in her stomach, thinking that it was all a dream and she has to go back to reality.

"Satori." Kagami says. "What are you thinking about?"

"What?"

"You've been thoughtful and gloomy since we left town. You're here to relax and enjoy yourself, right?"

Aomine's words, yesterday resonate in her head... 'come on, it'll be fun!'

It should be fun. She deserves it after all. She worked so hard. Why is she so affected by one person's mood? He's the one who told her to come afterwards. Why wouldn't she.

Now determined to have a good time, she unexpectedly runs to the sea, dipping her legs up to her knees and running through the small waves, splashing around. This is fun and refreshing in this hot weather.

Why should she feel miserable? Kagami's right. She's there to have fun. That's why Aomine took her with him in the first place and that's what she's gonna do. With or without him.

Kagami joins her in the water and messes around, throwing water at her and making her squeal.

Aomine can't take his eyes off of her, her face radiating so much in her laughter, a small smile slowly creeping up on his face.

But when he sees Kagami grabbing her and pulling up over his shoulder he thinks that it should be him. Why though? He's not gonna change for anyone. He doesn't do relationships. He's not attached to anyone.

Clenching his jaw, he digs his fists in his shorts' pockets and resumes his walk back to the villa, his pace a little faster while the others are gladly watching the two lunatics having fun in the ocean.

"Let me down! Haha!"

"You need to say the secret word."

"Ouch! Haha! Let me down please, my stomach hurts."

"Secret word."

"I don't know the secret word!!"

"Try."

"Kagami please let me down! Hahaha!!"

"Close."

"Taiga Kagami, if you don't let me down I'm gonna punch you butt!!"

The others bored of waiting for them, walk ahead and Kagami gets close to the shore before dropping her off his shoulder but when he puts her down, he loses balance, unused to have such a tall and athletic woman in his arms and falls forward over her.

Clawing onto his neck, she falls back on her ass but he cushions the fall with his hand on the sand, holding her by the waist with his other arm.

He's now laying over her, on the sand, staring in her charming eyes. She's immobile, looking at his inviting lips, her arms still around his neck, her fingers now twining with his hair.

She wants to kiss him. Life's too short. She's there to have fun. She met the guy only a few hours ago so she knows he's not after a life partner. It's all good. She's young!

He smiles. He wants to kiss her too and seeing her smile back, he knows it's okay if he does.

His face getting closer, she reaches for his lips, so so close, but their moment is high jacked by a wave, rushing up the sand, where they are laying.