Imperfect match // Daiki Aomine (Kuroko no Basuke)

31. Friends with benefits

After driving to the basketball courts, as they also wanted to take their surfing and bodyboard gear, they settle on the stands, Satori scanning the beach as she perches on the top bench, looking at the beach volleyball nets and the people playing.

She really wants to go and check out the ongoing game but wants to watch Aomine play for a bit before sneaking away. That's what a girlfriend would do, right? Although he knows and loves her independent side, he wouldn't have been surprised if she'd done what she wanted.

Observing them in their friendly turned serious play, while sitting on the bench with Momoi, she spots each of their strengths and is impressed at the speed, accuracy, fluidity, reach, strength of each of them. They are playing three on three. Aomine, Midorima and Akashi versus Kagami, Kuroko and Atsushi.

Kagami and Aomine's games are very similar and you can see both their exhilarated faces when they end up in a one on one battle.

Momoi also tells Satori all about each of their stats. She's a fountain of knowledge, and explains that that's what she used to do both in middle and high school.

"Are you no longer doing this?"

"Occasionally, but I am also looking at other sports. I love the research." She smiles.

After Kagami's team wins, they join the girls on the stands, being offered refreshments.

The day is hot and they are all very sweaty.

"Are you guys okay?" Akashi asks.

"Perfect." Momoi answers.

"Did you put sunscreen on?" Aomine asks Satori patting her pale shoulders as he sits next to her, wiping his face with a towel.

"Momoi did."

"You should have asked me." He whispers deeply, kissing her hot skin, making her tremble with desire.

"Oh come on! Do you have to?" Akashi says disgusted. He did have his eyes on her too, his short height not making him any less confident in his chase.

"Haha! Sorry." Aomine says with a cute grin, as he thought only she heard.

Once refreshed, they change the teams and return on the court.

It's the best time for her to sneak away and she stands up.

"Where are you going?" Momoi asks.

"Just on the beach, I wanna see the beach volleyball game."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No it's fine, I'm literally just over there." She points.

"Okay, see you later."

"Yeah."

As she walks along the court, Aomine notices her and she sees his tilted head and furrowed eyebrows. She points at the beach and he nods smiling, knowing where she's off to.

Getting closer to the beach volley game, she sees a few people and stands with them. It's a mixed game and they are pretty... average. It looks like a bunch of friends messing around but their enthusiasm while playing is contagious.

"Hey gorgeous." She hears behind her, sighing already at the thought of being hit on, disturbed in what was a lovely time and having to reject someone.

Turning around, she is shocked both by the person standing in front of her and the fact that she hasn't recognised his voice.

"Tetsu?!?" She says surprised, soon feeling Kuroo's arms wrap around her waist as he hugs her.

"Satori. It's so good to see you Princess."