Pairing: Kagome Higurashi/Seiijurou Akashi

Summary: Back in their Teikou days Kagome Higurashi and Seiijurou Akashi were more than just the pair who ran the basketball team since the coach was too lazy to do more than set training menus and enforce Teikou's motto. They were childhood friends. They meant the world to each other. But when they finally meet again after over a year of no contact Akashi is different. Distraught, Kagome decided to turn her back on the Generation of Miracles and move on from her feelings for their leader and former captain. Will Akashi see the light soon enough to fix his mistakes before they both end up filled with regret?

Note: Again, this is a window in an alternate timeline of the "Miracle Kagome" universe to give a hint as to different ways I could have gone with it. Normally people use omakes for that purpose, but I figured a series of spinoff oneshots would be a nice way to bolster the sadly lacking Inuyasha/Kuroko no Basuke x-over category. So anyone that wants full-story versions of these oneshots will have to make do with the spinoffs and the full-story version. At this point in time it's been months since Kise has 'seen the light' so to speak/reverted to his old self. And Midorima is showing enough signs of either changing for the better or returning to his old self that instead of full denial, Kagome's confused about what she should think where he's concerned. Seirin hasn't played its second match with Touou or played Yosen yet so Aomine is still the same jerk he's been for most of seasons 1 & 2, and Murasakibara still thinks he hates basketball. I eventually imply in Miracle Kagome-verse canon that Akashi and Kagome were nearly an item back in their Teikou days before realizing that the other person has developed feelings for someone else and deciding to break off their almost-romance. Meaning, in that universe before Inuyasha, Hojo, and Kouga were ever in the picture Akashi was the first guy she might have been able to call a boyfriend but her relationship with him never reached the point of being full crushes/actually being in love. And I'm adhering to Japanese standards for names in that you normally only use the first name of someone you're really close to. By using last names Kagome's refusing to admit that the boys the Generation of Miracles have become are the friends she used to attend Teikou with before she transferred to a different Jr. High.

Girl Next Door

Over two but not quite three years ago boy with crimson red hair and red eyes nearly the same shade entered the secondary office of Teikou's boys' basketball team. It was supposed to be empty. 'Supposed to' being the key phrase. Behind the desk was a girl with hair that stopped an inch above her shoulders and neon green eyes that currently drooping to a point which indicated that she was close to nodding off. She was sluggishly writing something on a piece of paper, a big book beneath said paper that seemed to be a textbook for either math or science judging by the equations the boy could see from where he stood.

"So this is where you were, Kagome." he said, "Coach ended practice early today due to a family emergency. What are you doing here so late?"

The now namedKagome's head shot up so fast that the boy thought she was lucky she hadn't developed whiplash. "Seikkun! What do you mean? I was just doing a little review to study for my upcoming test."

He raised an eyebrow. "It's almost five thirty, Kagome."

Kagome's eyes widened. "How did it get so late?!"

"What am I ever going to do with you?" the boy asked rhetorically as he shook his head, "Come on, I'll treat you to dinner and walk you home. We can always study for the test together tomorrow."

Her eyes brightened, an even brighter smile forming on her lips. "Really?! Thanks, Seiijurou, you're the best!"

Back in the present, Kagome was frozen on the spot where she stood. Her mouth was partially open and her hand half raised, having been about to cut into the Generation of Miracles' brewing argument to stop them from causing a scene. There at the top of the staircase where Teruko Kuroko, Kise Ryouta, a boy who might be her cousin, and boys who she refused as things were to acknowledge as Daiki Aomine and Atsushi Murasakibara had met up was an all too familiar looking figure. He had bright crimson red hair, and was only around her height. When he spoke for a moment it was like her childhood friend Seiijurou Akashi had come back. But there was an air of arrogance and a feeling of threat beneath his words, and a strange energy in eye that had turned golden. The brewing denial rose to the surface full-force and intensified when instead of cutting his bangs upon Midorima's scissors, he charged at Kagami. As she approached the two boys she became convinced. This couldn't be her Akashi.

'It's not him!' she thought desperately, her eyes hardening, 'This boy is no Seiijurou.'

Kagome grabbed his wrist before the hand attached to it could near Kagami's face. She then took away the scissors he had just threatened her rash teammate with. Scissors in hand, she walked up to the green haired member of the Generation of Miracles. Midorima accepted his 'lucky item' back, his expression going a little sheepish at the look on her face.

"If you're really Shintarou you should know better than to give something sharp and pointy to potentially hostile or violent strangers." Kagome chastised.

Behind her the shorter redhead's eyes widened in shock for a moment.

"Oi, Higurashi- What're you-" the blue haired, dark skinned boy started to question the black haired girl only for Kuroko to elbow him before he could finish his sentence, "Itai! What was that for, Teru?!"

"Daiki-kun, you should stay out of his." the light blue haired girl told her cousin, gesturing her head at their old captain.

No one in the Generation of Miracles had never seen Akashi with such an expression. It was unreadable but in a different way from usual. It was full of emotional turmoil, and he was clearly confused. The Generation of Miracles knew that as someone who was used to getting his way the redhead had probably never dealt with so much ire from a friend before.

What's more, it wasn't just any friend it was Kagome. His childhood friend, the girl the entire Teikou boys' basketball team was grateful towards to the point of borderline worship for keeping the sometimes volatile captain going overboard with training and punishments and countering the manager Momoi's attempts to feed the team her cooking. Everyone in Teikou who had been familiar with the pair knew there was more than friendship between them. When Kagome left Teikou the rumors lasted up until the Generation of Miracles graduated. This was surely the opposite of what Akashi was expecting of his reunion with Kagome.

"Kagome, Why-" Akashi tried to ask Kagome for an explanation, but she interrupted him.

"Excuse me, but as far as I can see we're complete strangers." Kagome said more coldly than the Generation of Miracles had thought her capable of, "Please don't call me so familiarly. Also, I agree that Kagami-kun is aggravating but I still won't forgive anyone who attacks my teammates unwarranted."

Murasakibara frowned. "Why is Kago-chin upset, Mido-chin?"

"I don't know either." Midorima said, "I'm as puzzled as you, nanodayo. Not that I care about something that's none of my business."

The purple haired 'giant' looked at his former teammate disapprovingly. He might not know why Kagome left Teikou or why she was upset enough for her wrath to last over a year of separation. However he was fond of her, and the way she not only gave even Akashi the cold shoulder but had grown distant from her tsundere cousin made it startlingly clear that it was their fault. She hadn't even once used anyone but Kise's and Kuroko's given names.

"How mean of you, Mido-chin." he drawled, "Family isn't supposed to be so cold to one another. I would be careful if I were you, or Kago-chin might end up crying."

Even though his tone stayed nonchalant and indifferent-seeming as always, there was a hint of a threat when he glared towards the end. Murasakibara and Kagome had always been close. It helped that she had never pushed him about basketball, just encouraged him not to hesitate to quit if he decided he hated it too much to play it. The boy nicknamed the 'Titan' by the basketball community would without a doubt crush even Akashi who he typically obeyed without question if he hurt her without fixing things.

But before anyone could do or say something Kagome started to walk away, doubtless chased off by her cousin's cold words. "Kagami-kun, Furihata-kun, let's go. We should leave Teruko and Ryouta to conduct their business with this bunch in peace. We don't belong in this meeting."

"Oi, but I-" Kagami tried to protest only to be dragged behind the relatively tall girl by the back of his jacket, struggling at first only to stop when he caught a glimpse of the expression on her face.

"Wa-wait for me!" Furihata called as he rushed after them, glad for a chance to escape.

##########

"Kagomecchi, wait! That's not true, you're just as much a member of the Generation of Miracles as we are!" Kise shouted in vain, "Mou, she left. And here I thought she was starting to forgive us all."

"Oi, Teru. She's been weird since we met right before our Interhigh match." Aomine complained, "What's with her?"

"To Kagome, none of you except for Kise-kun are yourselves." Kuroko said, "She doesn't like who you've become, and misses the people you were before."

"Teruko that makes no sense. Kagome's never been the type to get mad at someone for changing." Akashi countered, "For doing something unlike them she finds inexcusable, but not for changing."

"I'm not saying that she's mad at you all for changing, I'm saying she can't stand how you changed. It's related to why I quit Teikou's team." Kuroko said, "Tell me, when's the last time you enjoyed basketball or respected or opponent? Do you even still like it or are you doing something you've come to hate out of habit?"

"…game…" Midorima muttered.

"What was that Shintarou?" Akashi asked.

Midorima blushed in embarrassment. "Nothing. It's just that… I have an idea."

"Kagome hates it when people play any kind of game for a reason besides to have fun. She thinks people who take games too seriously or take trying to win them too seriously disgusting. Treating winning a game like a life or death battle is stupid, to put it in her exact words." He pointed out, "Anyone who plays anything with her long enough learns this. Theis might be related to how our gameplay changed after Aomine came into his talent. And Okaa-san said something about Kagome after last year's Winter Cup final."

"What did she say?" Akashi asked.

"I didn't pay attention, but she said something about Kun Loon Oba-san being worried about Kagome. Something about Kagome's birthday. I ignored it because her birthday is in the spring, right before mine."

"Ah…" That seemed to mean something to Murasakibara.

"Do you know something Atsushi?" Akashi asked.

"Last year on my sister's birthday she dragged me to visit her friend's school to impress her brother." the purple haired teen said, "The whole time the girl blubbered about how her uncle got a report on how her friend had gone missing from the shrine she lived on three days earlier on her fifteenth birthday. Apparently the girl didn't even ever reply to the text Nee-chan's friend sent wishing her happy birthday."

"Do you remember her name?" Kise asked.

"NO, but the school was Daikiba Chugaku." Murasakibara answered, "The cafeteria only served Western food."

"Daikiba is the school Kagome transferred to…" Kuroko said, her eyes widening, "And her birthday is a sore spot."

"That makes no sense." Aomine said, "Why would something like that be a sore spot?"

"Kagome won't talk about it; she says no one would believe the truth and that it's better left a secret anyway, and that Daikiba students think she was always getting sick." Kuroko admitted with a frown, "But she did say that she was dragged into a situation that went from crazy to a disaster so big cleaning it up took so long that so almost missed too much school to graduate."

'Kagome… What on Earth happened to you?' Akashi looked in the direction she wetn with a thoughtful expression, frowning in concern.

"Akashicchi, aren't you gonna go after her?" Kise asked with a frown.

The redhead didn't answer, and he didn't follow Kagome either. His pride was in the way. In spite of what Kuroko said and his knowledge of what Kagome was like he didn't think he did anything wrong. It would be a long time before he came to his senses. Over the time before then, Kagome made piece with not just her cousin, Midorima, but even Aomine and Murasakibara. Akashi's catchphrase would only make things worse.

############

"I always win so I'm always right." the former captain of Teikou said.

Kagome glared at him. "There's more to life than winning, you know. How you win matters, and never being wrong is not just impossible but detrimental in the long run."

"Have you forgotten Teikou?" Akashi asked condescendingly, "'Victory is absolute.'"

"That kind of thinking has led to rulers and politicians being taken down by people they once trusted, even loved. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but do you even have good intentions, Bakacchou-san?" she asked in return, "Basketball is just a game. Is it even fun for you? Do you even see the multitudes of boys who quit basketball because the Generation of Miracles were too brutal and took away all appeal it once had to them or because Teikou's practice routine was more like military camp than trying to up your skills in a game and they couldn't take it?"

Akashi's childhood friend's words hit him hard, but he ignored it. Then in the middle of the Seirin VS Rakuzan match he was brought back to his senses and his golden eye was back to red. The game continued, only in a more proper manner. And Rakuzan… lost. Akashi didn't like the sensation of disappointment but he hadn't felt this exhilarated in a long time. It was like waking up from a crazy and really long dream. In spite of his infamous level of self-control it took all he had not to wince when he thought of the last couple of years. The redhead approached Kagome but instead of shaking her hand he bowed low.

"…What're you…?" Kagome seemed confused but hopeful.

"Kagome, words can't possibly express how sorry I am. You were right." Akashi admitted, "I got so wrapped up in the atmosphere and pressure at Teikou I lost sight of why I play basketball in the first place. I even estranged Teruko from her former best friend. Can I ever make it up to you two?"

"I can't speak for Teruko, Seiijurou." she said with a smile, and then she took his hands in hers and clasped them together for a moment.

Then she was pulled into Seirin's festivities. Akashi simply watched, content to see her happy. He smiled in amusement at how she managed to give Kuroko and Kagami noogies. Her matchmaking ways made him chuckle when she made the coach and captain blush. But then Kiyoshi and Izuki gave her a hug at the same time. Akashi's heart clenched.

"All right already, Senpai." Kagome laughed, "You two did just as much you know. And I don't want Kagami to decide rumors make a good prank."

Akashi watched Kiyoshi laugh and placate the black haired girl while Izuki wrote something in a little notebook, he couldn't help but feel relieved. 'That was close…'

Kagome went to Seirin's bench and grabbed an all too familiar tin container. "Here, guys. I brought fudge in case we won!"

"Yum~ Is this homemade? You've got to thank your mom for us Higurashi-chan!" Koganei exclaimed.

"… I made it, actually." Kagome said in amusement.

"Really?! Awesome! Next time could you make chocolate fudge instead of peanut butter?" Koganei said.

"If your fudge is this good I look forward to your girl choko." Kiyoshi chimed in.

Kagome immediately shut down. "Iie. I'll eat stuff like pocky and chocolate chip cookies. But I've given up on chocolate. And the last time I tried to celebrate Valentine's Day was two years ago. I've given up on that particular Western holiday."

Then she walked away.

###########

Her words struck a chord in Akashi.

'It can't be…' he thought.

"How was your day, Seikkun?" Akashi remembered Kagome asking as they headed to practice on their second Valentine's Day attending Teikou.

He had only shrugged in response. "As usual."

"Did you eat your chocolate yet?" she had asked, trying to sound nonchalant but still seeming unusually curious.

Akashi had been confused. Not that he was willing to let it show.

"Hm? I didn't accept any." he had said.

"… Or even find any?" Kagome had asked.

"What do you mean?" he had asked in return, not understanding what she meant.

"You know, were there any on your desk or, say… in either of your lockers?" Kagome elaborated, she had seemed exasperated at the time but now Akashi realized she had been upset.

Akashi had rolled his eyes and chuckled. "I think you've been watching and reading too much shoujo, Kagome."

Kagome wouldn't said a word the rest of the day. It never occurred to Akashi even in the back of his mind that it had been because he had done something wrong. A month later, he opened his shoe locker one day and found a squished black wrapper holding that had melted only to cool into a distorted shape, complete with an orange ribbon that had a note attached. He looked at it for a moment and then thrown it away without a single thought. He had felt Kagome's eyes on him, she had been with him. But when he'd gone to turn towards her she was gone. It wasn't until he did his homework that night that he realized that he had recognized the handwriting on the note. Other than that revelation, however, he didn't give the incident a single thought. In fact on the last day of their second year when the janitor threw away a similar object found in Midorima's locker the redhead had forgotten about it entirely.

##########

Snapping back to the present, Akashi's eyes widened. 'Kagome… It was my fault, wasn't it?'

Making sure to keep his pace steady so as not to draw attention to himself Akashi followed Kagome. His teammates called out to him but he ignored them. Mibuchi tried to follow but Kuroko got in his way. Not seeing her, he bumped into her. Kuroko would have fallen down but Himuro caught her.

"You should be more careful, Kuroko-chan." Himuro chided gently, "It would be a shame for such a cute girl to get hurt."

"You know that most people have trouble seeing you, Kuro-chin." Murasakibara added from just behind the pair.

Kuroko blushed at how close he was and at being called cute but nodded. "Hai. Arigatou, Himuro-san."

Himuro smiled. "Think nothing of it. And isn't it about time you started calling me Tatsuya, Kuroko-chan?"

Kuroko thought it over for a moment and decided that she had no protests. "Hai… Tatsuya-san."

His smile widened into a grin. "'San'? Well, it's a start."

Mibuchi blinked, having taken a moment to grasp the situation. "Ah, you're one of the girls that played with Sei-chan at Teikou, right? When did you get there?"

"Right when you did." she said, "You need to let Akashi-kun go after her by himself."

"Ara? Why is that?" Mibuchi asked.

"That's between the two of them, so I can't say." Kuroko said, "But they have a lot to talk about."

"Are they dating or something?" Mayuzumi asked bluntly, "It would be in bad taste to get in the middle of a lovers' quarrel."

"No, Aka-chin and Kago-chin aren't dating yet." Murasakibara piped in.

"When they do start dating depends on how Akashi-kun does apologizing." Kuroko agreed.

Himuro shook his head. "You male Generation of Miracles are such a handful, ne?"

##########

When Akashi caught up to Kagome they were right outside of Seirin's locker room.

"Kagome, Wait!" he said, grabbing her wrist.

"Seikkun? Why did you follow me?" Kagome asked.

"I overheard what you said to your teammates." he said, making her pause like a deer caught in the headlights, "I had no idea until today, but now that I know… Why didn't you just give it to me directly?"

"I tried!" she snapped, only to lose almost all energy, "But when lunch ended and you hadn't said a word to me… In any case, even if I couldn't you were surrounded by hopeful fangirls. I never had a chance to do it in private."

"The others were the same, weren't they?" Akashi stated.

Kagome shook her head vehemently. "No! They all never noticed or gave away the giri choko I gave them too. But you… you were different."

Akashi's eyes widened, remembering when he helped her get her grandfather a birthday gift two years ago.

###########

"I'm having a lot of fun." Kagome had commented.

Akashi was pretty sure he had smiled, something he rarely did for anyone who wasn't her. "Good. I'm having a good time too."

She had grabbed his arm and looked at him with a grin. "This is really nice. It's kind of like a date."

Too flustered to trust himself to speak properly, Akashi didn't reply. He just looked away to hide his blush. But he did adjust their intertwined arms so he could grasp her hand. His smile had widened just a little when she squeezed his hand in response.

############

Akashi found himself blushing. "Do you mean… then was it-?"

Kagome sighed exasperatedly at how slow her childhood friend could be about those things. But then she got a better look at Akashi's face. His expression made her giggle. So many people were scared of the redhead or saw him as the picture-perfect image of the ideal heir of a rich family. (Even though in reality his mother was a lawyer and his father was an editor for a small magazine.) But really, underneath it all he was just another teenage boy. One that was really cute when he was embarrassed or flustered.

"And here I thought you were smart." Kagome teased.

Akashi only got even more flustered, which was made worse by his attempt to keep from raising his hopes. "But that was two years ago. Wouldn't you have…?"

Her expression softened. "Don't you get it yet? I've only ever seen you. You're the one I love, even if you don't feel the same. Never doubt my feelings."

And Kagome kissed him. Akashi was frozen in shock. When she went to pull away, he put his arms around her and pulled her closer. He kissed her deeply and then buried his face in her hair.

This time Kagome was the once confused. "Seiijurou…?"

"Silly Kagome. Aren't you the one doubting my feelings? Even when I'd lost myself I thought of you all the time." he admitted, "I love you Kagome."

"Seikkun…!" she took her arms from where they were trapped between their torsos and hugged him just as tightly as he was holding her.

"I've got a lot of lost time to make up for." he murmured.

"We both do." she said.

"When we're properly alone, I want you to tell me everything." he told her, "It doesn't matter if you think I won't believe you. I still want to hear it."

Kagome pulled away to look in his eyes. She knew that she couldn't plan to stay with anyone in a long term relationship and withhold such a big part of her life. Especially Akashi, she had never been able to fool him and he was too smart to buy her grandfather's crazy, half-baked excuses.

"It sounds crazier than you're probably thinking." she warned, And it's a really long story."

###########

Around a month later, Riko was using the basketball club's increased funds to take the Seirin team on a training trip under the guise of a reward vacation. It was the day that they were supposed to finalize the details and pay their fees so the club really had enough money for the trip a kink was put in Riko's plans. Winter break started the next day. However, Kuroko had a duffle bag and Kagome was wearing an old and very stretched out yellow backpack. The first year trio were gaping at how full the monstrosity of a bag was.

"Higurashi, Kuroko, what's with the bags?" Hyuuga asked, "We're not leaving until Sunday."

"And neither of you has paid your fees for the trip." Riko pointed out.

"We won't be going." Kuroko said.

"Not going!? What do you mean?!" Riko demanded.

"A friend gave me some tickets to a special event our favorite videogame is holding in Oosaka." Kagome explained, "We're going to spend a day in Akihabara before heading out."

"How long will you be gone?" Hyuuga asked.

"We'll be in Oosaka a week since it's a multi-day event. We won't be back in Tokyo until New Year's Eve." Kuroko said.

"Two teenage girls are going to spend a week and a half by themselves?!" their captain spluttered.

"We won't be by ourselves." Kuroko said, "It's a double date."

"Since when were either of you dating anyone?!" Kagami demanded.

"What's that supposed to mean, Bakagami?!" Kagome retorted.

"Kagami, it's natural for such cute girls to have boyfriends." Kiyoshi pointed out.

"More importantly, who are you dating?" Koganei asked, Mitobe nodding to show that he was also curious.

Kagome looked at Kuroko, amused.

"Should we tell them?" the black haired girl asked her best friend.

"I don't care either way." Kuroko said.

"I started dating Seikkun right after the Winter Cup." Kagome said, "Tecchan started a long distance relationship with Tatsuya-senpai when he came looking for Bakagami while he was in America training with Alex-san."

"What-?! You're dating my brother, Kuroko?!" Kagami shouted.

"Who's Seikkun?" Izuki asked.

"Ah, that's what Kagome-chan calls Akashi-kun." Kuroko explained.

The trio of first year boys shivered in fear. 'She's dating that guy?!'

"Most importantly, isn't it inappropriate for two teenage girls to be alone with their boyfriends for so long?!" Hyuuga sputtered.

"My friend reserved four rooms." Kagome said.

"Even still-" Hyuuga protested.

Riko wacked him on the head with a clipboard.

"Oh lighten up, Hyuuga. If their parents are okay with it it's fine." She chided, "How'd you two land guys like that so quickly?"

"I've actually known Seikkun since kindergarten. I had been expecting him to ask me out for almost a year by the time I decided to leave Teikou." Kagome waved off, "But Tecchan's and Takkun's story is so cute!"

Kagome almost squealed near the end. Kuroko blushed in embarrassment but stayed quiet. She did send Kagome a look, though.

"Go on." Riko encouraged.

"One day Takkun walked into Maji Burger looking for Kagami." Kagome explained, "He noticed the novel Tecchan was reading, and they talked for almost an hour. He walked us to her house, and before he left he asked to borrow her phone. The next thing I know they had exchanged numbers and he was walking off, promising to stay in touch."

"That is adorable, and really sweet. Why can't something like that happen to me?" Riko sighed, not noticing the look Hyuuga gave her at her comment.

"I never took you for a gossip, Kagome." A male voice said teasingly.

They all turned towards the entrance to see Akashi himself standing. Visibly brightening, Kagome ran to him. He easily caught her in his arms when she glomped him and returned her embrace.

"Seikkun, you're early!" she exclaimed happily, "I should have known you'd have less trouble with your team's problems than you claimed. And I'm just really happy for Tecchan, that's all. I've been hoping she'd meet a guy like Takkun for three years."

"I'm happy Teruko's best friend approves." A calm voice said cheerfully.

"Konnichiwa, Tatsuya-san." Kuroko greeted.

"Hello, Teruko." Himuro said, hugging her, "I missed you."

"I missed you too." Kurko said, smiling lightly, "Now can you please let me go?"

"It's fine as long as I don't kiss you in public, isn't it?" he countered,grinning slightly when Kuroko blushed.

"T-T-Ta-Tatsuya?!" Kagami sputtered, "What the hell are you doing?!"

"Hello, Taiga." Himuro said, "I came to see Teruko."

"That's not what I meant!" Kagami shouted, but then he realized something and calmed down, "But on that note… Didn't you have a training trip yourself?"

"Coach canceled for personal reasons." the Yosen player explained, "So I decided to take advantage of the extra free time to spend more time with Teruko."

Meanwhile, Akashi had been studying Kagami's brother contemplatively. He whispered something, presumably a question, to Kagome. (Who never left his arms.) She just as quietly. Finally, they separated slightly and Akashi turned to address Himuro. It wasn't hard for the Seirin team members who noticed to guess that it involved how protective the Generation of Miracles was of Kuroko.

"I approve." Akashi said, "I can see that you'll treat Teruko well, and I think you'll be good for her."

"It's nice to see someone be able to bring Tecchan out of her shell without pushing her too much." Kagome agreed.

"I'll do my best." Himuro promised, giving a closed-eyed smile.

"…Urusai." Kuroko muttered, blushing harder than she was before and hiding her face in Himuro's chest.

All of the second year boys blushed at how cute Kuroko was. "Kawaii…!'

Kagome giggled at their reactions.

"It's nice to see Tecchan be so popular." she said, "Rikkun's probably going to cry, though."

"As long as they keep their eyes and hands off of you I don't mind either way." Akashi replied.

Kagoem swatted at his arm in a playful show of annoyance, her smile giving away her real feelings on the manner. "Mou, Seikkun. You know I only have eyes for you. There never has been and never will be anyone else."

Akashi smirked. Had anyone been watching, they would have marveled at how such a look could seem gentle and loving. He kissed her on the forehead, a gesture Riko never thought she would see in real life.

"And I'll make sure it stays that way." Akashi declared, "I'll never let you go, Kagome."

"… How long are they going to stay like that?" Koganei asked, half incredulous.

Mitobe, silent as ever, just shrugged with a sheepish smile.

"… I think they forgto about us." Izuki noted.

And life went on as usual for Seirin. Kagami tried something that would cause trouble. A second year tried to keep him in line. The benchwarmer first years panicked. And the lovebirds either were lost in their own world or watched the chaos from the sidelines.

Owari