Changing Peach Hearts (Akashi X OC)

Chapter 26 - The Last Shadow

Alex had left a week after she had arrived. 

She and Chiharu had promised to meet at the Winter Cup finals, whether it was Himuro's school, Yosen High, who won or Kagami's school, Seirin High. Either way Alex was sure that they would be able to beat Kaijo High in the semi-finals to face Rakuzan.

A few days before, Chiharu had received a call from Satsuki saying that Aomine had been beaten; Seirin High had beaten Touou Academy.

...

Chiharu's mouth gaped open and closed like dying fish. 

Her recollection immediately swerved back to the tanned male childhood friend whom she had known used to love basketball. 

"Daiki... did he?"

She could hear muffled crying over the phone. 

Chiharu knew that it was Satsuki. 

The cries stopped as Satsuki's voice became bright and chirpy. 

 Chiharu knew that her sister had been crying tears of happiness. 

"Dai-chan... He attends basketball practice now and, and he's changed," she said simply.

"He's changed? He's back!" Chiharu cried in surprise. 

Her thoughts turned to a certain redhead whom she had thought would be impossible to beat. However after recent events, Chiharu wasn't sure whether it was still necessary for Akashi to be defeated. His old self had returned and as days passed, it was becoming more apparent.

"Yes... he's back," Satsuki whispered with relief.

Chiharu knew how concerned her sister was for Aomine. 

A while back she had received a phone call from her; her sobs apparent in their conversation. 

Satsuki had told her how Aomine had found out that it was her who had told the coach to forbid him from playing. He was furious at her. In response Chiharu had to calm her down and tell her that Aomine didn't hate her, he never could. However she knew she was not convincing enough on her phone and it was not like she could teleport to Tokyo to comfort her twin sister. Instead she called the one person whom she could trust to bring the spirits back to her; Kuroko.

Satsuki's care for Aomine was as if they were siblings. 

And as she would not abandon him or Chiharu, she knew that Aomine would not abandon her.

...

The Rakuzan High basketball team had seamlessly passed through the Winter Cup games. 

They were simply undefeatable. It was natural for them to reach the semi final rounds. 

The only question was who their opponents would be.

Chiharu naturally supported Himuro and wished for him to finally achieve his dreams of beating Kagami Taiga. 

However, she had also watched the spectacular games Seirin played against Touou Academy and other high schools. They were an evolving powerhouse. She could see why Alex praised Kagami and why Satsuki had an indefinite belief that Kuroko's team would beat Yosen High.

Following that was also the long time standing, Kanagawa prefecture team, Kaijo High. In other words, Kise's school. They were also possible candidates to face Rakuzan High. 

Although Alex was assured that either Yosen or Seirin who would face Rakuzan in the finals, Chiharu couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling that Kaijo could be their competitors. The Generation of Miracles were simply an ever growing specimen.