Imperfect match // Daiki Aomine (Kuroko no Basuke)

45. Let's celebrate

Coming home just before 7pm, Aomine feels a little tired out.

Physically, because the game was hard work as he had to rush from the volleyball training centre to play against Waseda university. They did win the game comfortably though.

But it's emotionally that he feels drained.

The last couple of weeks without her have been hell, not knowing if he will see her again, trying to prepare his heart with what could come.

He couldn't have expected what happened that afternoon.

Reliving the moment he was able to hold her in his arms and motivate her to push through, the kiss she dropped on his cheek and the sincere tender smile she offered him, helped him perform at 100% during today's game.

His heart full, dreading entering his quiet apartment, he opens the door, welcomed by the sound of music. Did he forget to turn the radio off this morning and it's been playing all day?

The smell of food, his favourite food, makes him realise that the radio didn't stay on, that she's here and his heart starts to race.

Is this it? Is she back? Back for good?

Calm down. Be patient and wait to see what she says.

It feels close to impossible to calm down when he closes the door, drops his bag on the floor and sees her moving her hips to the song playing ('My moon, My man' by Feist) in her shorts and tank top, in front of the stove and frying what smells like Teriyaki burgers.

His heart fills with warmth seeing such sight as his apartment has been feeling so cold and lonely lately.

Her hair is slightly damp from a recent shower and up in a ponytail, showing off her inviting neck. Feeling hungry for it, he wants to sneak in behind her, wrap his hands around that toned waist of hers and pull her against him, smelling her perfume, touching her skin... but when he sees and hears her singing while holding the spatula, so lost into the song that she spins around, he can't help but scoff.

Hearing him, she jumps as she faces him and stops the show she didn't know she was giving, letting her arms down her side, looking at him, his bright grin and irresistible eye smile.

She missed him so much and wants to run to him but she's not sure what she should do. She's not completely sure he will take her back.

There it is, the doubt, the lack of confidence that only shows up when Aomine is involved even though he has shown her more than enough times how devoted he was to her.

"Hi." He says now just smiling.

"Hi. Are you hungry? I... I made..."

"My favourite." He says walking towards her, making her feel nervous.

How can he be more gorgeous than she remembers? Is it the light in the kitchen? His sensual voice? The swag in his walk?

No. It's that smile. The smile that says 'welcome home'.

Completely distracted in her thoughts, she drops the spatula on the floor, not sure what to do but, when his arms reach for her, she instinctively lifts hers up to welcome him.

His arms slide along her waist and lower back while hers travel from his shoulder to wrap themselves around his neck.

Pulling each other in this scrumptious embrace, feeling each other's muscles, sensing the warmth of each other's bodies and smelling their respective skins, shower gel, perfume, cologne, they find each other again.

There is no need to speak, she knows he still wants her and welcomes her back in his life as his partner, his other half.

He knows she has accepted her feelings and enters in this relationship willingly, determined to make this work.