Author's Note: Forewarning that Kise may verge semi-OOC on this first chapter if only because I wanted to get the plot in motion; this story is going to be slightly shorter than Sugarcane. I don't know why Kise is harder for me to write than Murasakibara, OTL. Anyways this is based off of his answer that he wants a girl that "won't tie him down." And plus I am a big fan of Kasamatsu. Hope you enjoy!

One

It is just shortly before the bell rings in the morning when he enters the classroom, strolling over to his desk to prepare for the day, when he spots someone loitering there. Judging from their appearance, he can already guess it is an upperclassmen. But frankly speaking, this hardly comes as a surprise in the light of the fact that his popularity has only increased since he started attending Kaijou.

"Ah, you're that Kise Ryouta, right?" she asks abruptly in such a monotone voice that he immediately suspects something is a little off about her.

Nonetheless, the blonde-haired basketball player settles into his desk and cheerfully smiles at her in turn. "That's me, Senpai~"

Suddenly her face lights up and she claps her hands together. "Perfect! And you're a model, right? So you have to know about fashion? And you have probably had a lot of girlfriends before." She seems to be talking more to herself than him.

Chuckling awkwardly, he scratches at the back of his head. "Ah, yes? Did you need something, Senpai?"

The brown-haired female reaches for his hands and grasps them in hers. "I thought you would never ask. Actually, I know this is probably a little straightforward..." Ah, here it comes, he thinks. Always so predictable. Although most confessions are usually not done so publicly; on that front, he has to commend her for being direct. But in consideration of the fact that he scarcely knows her and she seems fairly plain, rejection will be immediate.

"Senpai, I'm not really interested–"

"No!" she interrupts frantically before he can cut her off completely. There are almost, quite literally, tears welling up in her eyes. "It has to be you."

"Aha~ it's really flattering for you to say that, Senpai, but–"

"You have to help me confess to Yukio-senpai."

Those golden eyes of his blink slowly as he registers those words. "Kasamatsu-senpai?" he echoes back, as though he is afraid he did not hear properly the first time.

Her cheeks become rosy as she nods somberly. "Y-Yes... you are the only one who can help, I know it. The two of you are good friends, right? And since you are both on the basketball team... Plus, since you are in the modeling industry, you should know enough to be able to help me. I won't take no for an answer!"

Somehow, this situation seems completely messed up. Is he honestly hearing what he thinks he is hearing? This upperclassmen is approaching him expressly out of interest for a teammate – not out of interest in him? Is this a trick? His head seems to be spinning a little.

Regardless, the abrupt ringing of the warning bell is enough to coax the girl to leave. Although not without a few more more words for him. "Crap, no choice, I have to go. Anyways, Kise-kun, do you have any free time today? After school? I promise I will pay you back somehow." The way she speaks so fervently leaves him a bit disadvantaged, as much as he wants to reject those pleading gray eyes of hers.

When he considers the fact that this has to do with Kasamatsu, however, maybe accepting is not entirely a bad idea. Although in the back of his mind, he is also suspicious about the girl's motives. Perhaps this is all just an excuse to approach him.

"Whatever, I'll just wait for you after basketball practice. Student council will end its activities about the same time – oh. That's right. I am Takano, by the way. Takano Hotaru." The introduction is given belatedly, almost as an afterthought, right before she releases her grip on his hand and then tears out the room at breakneck speed. It is almost comical, in fact, how she seems to be in such a hurry to make it back to her own classroom before the bell rings. That long, braided hair of hers seems to dance around the small of her back as she rushes so desperately.

He almost finds himself laughing but stifles it just as quickly, if only because he still has suspicions lingering in the back of his mind.

The person most socially unaware of how imposing her actions are, sprints down the hallway and comes to a screeching halt just in front of her classroom door. She bursts in almost overdramatically, just as the final bell rings and everyone is taking their seats.

"Takano, you're late again!" someone calls out teasingly.

"Yeah, yeah, I made it on time." Triumphantly, she dusts her hands off before taking her seat. This charismatic figurehead, for as lively and loud as she is, actually acts as the vice president for the student council. Not a particularly prestigious position considering her work is attributed to the success of the actual president but she seems blithely unaware if her efforts are at all taken advantage of.

In fact, the moment the meeting starts after school, everyone seems a bit uneasy at the way she beams uncharacteristically at each of them without an ill word toward their slacking. No doubt the foremost thing on her mind is meeting up with Kise after class for what she considers a strategy meeting – although he is no doubt blissfully unaware of her full intentions.

As soon as necessary issues are addressed and activities come to a close, the meeting adjourns and Hotaru skips off almost gleefully. She has a beat in her step as she approaches the school's gym and loiters just outside of the doors. A few impatient glances at her watch later, and she can already see the group of players coming out of the doors.

"Ha? Someone waiting for Kise?" someone expresses with exasperation.

"More fangirls?" a familiar voice drawls, and Hotaru's heart flutters at the sight of the team's captain, who seems to be directing a disapproving glare at the blonde walking beside him. Kasamatsu aims a sudden jab of his hand right into his friend's side, eliciting a muffled groan.

"Y-Yukio-senpai?" she squeaks shrilly the moment both he and Kise approach.

"Ah?" There seems to be confusion on his face until he seems to recognize. "Oh, it's you, Takano."

Her bottom jaw trembles. "S-Sorry to... be... bothering... I... it's..." The strong confidence she had this morning that verged on almost pompous and arrogant seems to have totally vanished, and left in its place she seems to be blushing fiercely.

"Kasamatsu-senpai, did you bully her? She's stuttering," one of the other players pipes in teasingly.

"Shut up, I didn't do anything," he barks back. Then his gaze lands on her and he seems to regard her almost questioningly, as though he cannot understand the reason for her sudden meek disposition.

Hotaru quickly swallows back all other words and reaches for Kise. Quite literally dragging him by the tie around his neck, she darts off. "Excuse me!" she calls back apologetically, feeling guilty for speeding off so abruptly.

As soon as they are around the corner of the gym and far enough not to be overheard, she finally releases her grip on Kise, belatedly realizing that she has been choking him the whole way. He seems to cough a few times before adjusting.

"Really, Senpai, are you trying to kill me?" he whines in protest.

"Sorry." At least she does seem to say that sincerely. "I freeze up any time he comes close. You saw it right? It was bad, wasn't it?"

To be honest, it was positively pathetic and lame. But Kise is always the type to at least sugarcoat things enough not to elicit tears, so he smiles reassuringly. "If you try a little harder, I am sure Kasamatsu-senpai will notice you."

"God, you're a bad liar, Kise-kun. I would have pegged you for a better one since you're in the industry. Don't you learn basic acting skills while you're modeling?"

For every insult, he feels like an arrow has pierced him. Is she exceptionally cold to everyone except Kasamatsu, or is she just completely tactless in her approach to people? Either one could explain how impossible a relationship between her and the basketball captain is going to be. "How mean," he remarks childishly. "I was trying to make you feel better." Moreover, he does not need to hear such things from someone who has specifically approached him in desire of his help.

Yet something about his words seem to turn her off almost immediately. She frowns at him. "As I thought. Even though the president assured me that you would be the best one to approach with this problem, but... it's impossible."

"Hm? Impossible?" he echoes curiously.

Hotaru gives a decisive nod and suddenly thrusts a finger into his face. "Sorry, Kise-kun. But I just really dislike people like you."

This is... certainly the first time he has heard such an outright declaration of this flavor from a girl. And for a moment he almost gives some weight to her words until he realizes that she has been the one dragging him along. Certainly this is not something he wanted to get involved in, in the first place. So why is he on the receiving end of such cruel words?

"That smile of yours is disingenuous, your words are superficial and dishonest. It's like you're being cheerful to hide something." She sighs and then does a complete one-eighty in temperament as she gushes, "Not at all like Yukio-senpai. He's always candid and straightforward."

In other words, what she is trying to say, is that he is the complete opposite of the person that she admires. That in itself is not necessarily a bad thing, but he does find a swell of irritation at how judgmental an attitude she has taken toward him.

Before he can contest what she is saying, she makes one final concession. "Well, sorry, I guess I am being rude here. I am the one who asked for your help. And you can't be all bad because Yukio-senpai wouldn't be your captain if that were the case." And for the first time, she actually gives him a gentle smile. "Thanks for your time." Having apparently conveyed all she wanted, Hotaru turns and starts to leave.

The blonde-haired player is left in the wake of all of those harsh words looking both baffled and at a complete loss. Has he really just been rejected by someone that he never had any interest in to begin with? That alone should not bother him, but something about that girl gives him something of a headache. He rubs at his temples as he tries to just banish the whole memory from his mind. But something about her has disrupted his usual rhythm. Actually... the event seems to have triggered his competitive spirit. Despite how awful that should be, he finds himself grinning.

—

"Takano, what the heck are you doing?"

"Meditation," she responds in a hushed tone, never opening her eyes to see who is addressing her. Although certainly the awkward way she is seated at her desk is enough to draw attention from the entirely of the class as they gradually trickle in for the morning. But most of them seem to be pretty used to these antics.

Despite her intense concentration, disruptive grasps ringing throughout the class break her attempts to keep a clear head. Everyone seems to be murmuring about something but she does not bother to peek an eye open to see what the source of excitement is about. She just needs to–

Something suddenly slams against her desk and Hotaru almost literally leaps right out of it as she jolts upright and her eyes fly open. "W-wha?!"

"Takano-senpai," chimes the voice of the golden-haired underclassmen from the previous day, who is now addressing her with a wide smile. "I reflected on everything you told me yesterday. I think I can help you after all."

This time she regards him with a glum look on her face. "Kise-kun, I think we have already established that–"

"See, I have some photos of Kasamatsu-senpai that I can share with you, too." To supply this statement, he pulls out his phone and flashes before her a picture taken of the entire team, with emphasis on the captain who naturally stands out at the forefront.

That, of course, seems to convince her immediately. She wrenches the phone from his grip. "Y-you have more of these? Like this one?"

"Of course, Senpai. He is my captain, after all."

This time, Hotaru is the one eyeing him suspiciously. Certainly there has to be some underlying reason why he seems so ready to help her despite it not having any real benefit on his behalf. Unless he genuinely wants to assist her out of goodwill. No, that seems too doubtful. She draws a finger to her chin and taps several times. "What are your conditions?"

"Hm?" he blinks innocently. "What do you mean, Senpai?"

"I told you that act doesn't work on me."

A peal of laughter erupts from Kise, amusement in the face of her intolerance. "Alright, how about a favor? Anything that I want. Such as helping me deal with fangirls during practice so I don't get yelled at by the captain." Or rather, more than getting yelled at, he usually receives a swift kick to the back.

"Fine. But I have a condition in return."

Not that she is particularly in the situation to be making demands, but he supposes it may be interesting to humor her. "What is it?"

"You absolutely can't fall in love with me."

He bursts out into almost hysterical laughter at the very notion. Fall in love with someone as crazy and plain as her? But while he can chuckle at it right now and agree without any qualms, it may not be as laughable as he initially thinks.