Where the Paths Take Me [COMPLETED]

Chapter 54 ~ Progress ~

Kise had his head resting on his arm as his body slumped onto his study desk in an unexpected slumber. Souma has been working the team to the bones with training lately and the teachers are no where near merciful with all the homeworks given.

His phone ringed. At first, he didn't notice it.

Then, it ringed another few times until he heared the ringtone.

He abruptly sat up straight with his eyes half open, his hands rummaging the mess on his desk in search for his phone.

"H-Hello, mom? I'm doing homework and no, I didn't fall asleep this time!" Kise said aloud into his phone as soon as he swiped the 'answer' icon without looking at the caller ID.

His mom calls him very frequently to check up on him actually but, ever since Hokuto told her about his bad grades before.. She calls him almost every night to make sure he doesn't fall asleep before finishing his homework.

It was silent on the other line.

In truth, a blushing Megumi was hiding her face in a pillow at that moment. She had quite a long talk with Asuka about the whole 'phone call' thing and it was quite late so, she she didn't expect Kise to pick up. She gulped down the lump of nervousness down her throat, taking the pillow away from her face.

"A-Ano, Kise-kun.. I-It's Megumi," Megumi said.

Kise's drooping drowsy eyes slowly lightened into joy as his mind processed the words. He pulled his phone from his ear to see 'Megumicchi <3' as the caller ID.

"M-Megumicchi!" His surprise soon turned into pure happiness as that name rolled on his tongue.

It's been a while since she last heard him say her name with that bubbly voice of his. It made a smile appear on her pink lips.

"U-Umm, w-were you sleeping just now?" Megumi asked because she could hear the sense of leftover sleepiness in his husky voice.

"Hmm, actually I was," Kise answered casually.

"Ah, I'm sorry to disturb you!" Megumi hugged her pillow tighter. She rubbed her feet together under the covers to warm them up. She was so nervous that her feet was pale from blood.

"Eh?" Kise chuckled at what she said. He could imagine her blushing while apologizing like she always does. He miss seeing her antics. "It's okay actually. I'm happy that you called me. I get to hear your voice after all."

"I-I made you happy?" Megumi asked.

"Yupp! You surprised me. In a good way, of course!"

Megumi smiled to herself. She was glad that she managed to make a good start. A fluttering feeling soared in her heart as she let herself picture Kise smiling at her.

"Kise-kun.."

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to reply to your messages."

"Ah, you forgot to charge you phone, right?"

"Eh, how did you know?"

"Kasamatsu-senpai and Minako-senpai told me."

It was incredible how they could talk to each other so freely like that. Even though, Megumi didn't know what to say at first.. After a while, she was able to get into the flow thanks to Kise. We all know how he is. He never runs out of things to say.

They talked about a lot of things. Kise told her about basketball training, the killer pile of homeworks and all the fun moments he had with the team.

"But, it feels weird without you here with us.." Kise said. His eyes stared wistfully at the empty space at the corner of his room.

"Kise-kun.."