A/N: I am well aware that I am the worst. D:
So sorry for the super late update! I have been really busy with school and got sick for two weeks! First I had a cold, which resulted in a freaking ear infection! I have the worst luck when I get sick. It's never just "oh, you're sick". It's "oh, you're sick, but you have this too, so here's some medication". I am still taking antibiotics for my ear infection, but I will done with that soon enough. :D
So here's the twenty-fifth(!) chapter of Divine Will! I hope it is worth the long wait! Please forgive me and I hope you guys understand! I will never abandon a story that is more than halfway done (a lot more than halfway actually).
Also, I am currently beta-ing four stories! I did not expect to get so many requests in such a short time after I opened my beta profile. With that said, I will be a little busy with that too. After I finish Divine Will I think I'm gonna take a break with writing and work hard with beta-reading. I have already learned a lot from the stories I am beta-ing for and am enthusiastic to learn more!
Disclaimer: I do not own KnB!
Chapter 25: "Give me your hand."
Miki had been finishing up the rest of her homework after the basketball game when she received an unexpected text message.
Hello, it read.
She blushed and smiled happily as she realized the message was from none other than her crush, Midorima Shintaro.
Hello, Miki texted back.
I have thought about what you said.
She tapped her finger against her lip as she tried to figure out what she had said that would have gotten the boy thinking. After a few long moments of pondering, she gave up and asked the boy, About what?
Going out…again…
She sucked in a quick breath as she read Midorima's text over and over again. Were her eyes fooling her? Had he really sent that? Surely, it hadn't been an accident, right?
Oh…so what have you thought of? She hoped she didn't sound disappointed. Perhaps she had tried too hard to not seem desperate or overly excited.
Would…you like to go out somewhere with me again?
Miki's heart felt as though it was about to burst out of her chest. Her hands turned cold and shaky as she clumsily typed out her response.
Of course!
Uh oh. She sounded overly excited.
I'm glad.
She smiled, but her hands remained shaky. She was just so nervous!
So where is it that you want to take me?
She didn't even have to wait a minute before she got her reply. I have a few places in mind. Meet me at the library by Shutoku tomorrow at 2.
Okay, should I wear anything in particular?
What you normally wear should be fine.
Alright, then see you tomorrow!
See you.
Miki stared at her screen for a few more seconds before she pulled it close to her chest and jumped onto her bed. She buried her face into her pillow and started squealing into it, all the while kicking her legs against the bed excitedly. She hoped Takashi and her aunt wouldn't hear the almost feral noises coming out of her. She didn't want to have to explain what was wrong with her.
After her short moment of celebration, she rolled onto her back and dialed Shiho's number. She just had to share the news with someone.
"Hello?"
Miki grinned. "Shiho!"
"Why the hell do you sound so…perky?" her sister grumbled over the receiver.
"Well, I'm good, thanks for asking." Miki rolled her eyes.
"Fine, why are you calling?"
"That isn't any better."
"Why are you calling?" her sister repeated. "We literally saw each other a few hours ago."
"Something happened in the few hours apart."
"Spit it out, nee-chan."
Miki giggled. "You won't believe it! I can barely believe it myself!"
"Stop beating around the bush and get to it, woman!" Shiho snapped impatiently.
"Rude." Miki sighed, before continuing. "Anyways, Midorima-kun asked if we could hang out tomorrow!"
"So…it's a date?"
Miki choked on her own spit and started coughing.
"I mean, it should be one if it made you feel like you had to call me." Shiho stated.
Miki wheezed and gulped in a deep breath. "Well…I-I guess so…"
"Aw, nee-chan is finally going out on a date!" Shiho teased. "When is the wedding, huh?"
"Shiho!"
"All joking aside, I am happy for you. It's about time to have a boyfriend! Especially that Midorima dude."
"You think so?" Miki asked shyly, twisting a strand of hair around her finger.
"Well, it is about as clear as day, sis." Shiho deadpanned. "Yoshino kept asking me if you and grass-head are a thing after you two left together."
Miki groaned. "That's embarrassing…"
"I think it's kinda cute."
She remained quiet before letting out a sigh. "I…I really like him, Shiho. I don't want to mess things up."
"You won't, nee-chan." Her younger sister assured her. "Besides, greenie is a newbie in relationships as well."
"You think so?"
"I know so. People like him reek of singleness."
"That's a little rude, don't you think?"
"Whatever." Shiho laughed. "Anyway, just have fun and don't worry too much about it. I'm the last person you should be asking for relationship advice, but I think you two will be fine. You're both new to relationships and you two will figure it out."
"H-Hopefully…"
To say she was a mess would have been the understatement of the century. She was an absolute disaster.
"Miki-chan," her aunt called to her with wide eyes. "What's wrong? Why does it look like a tornado hit your room?"
Miki wanted to cry.
"I can't find anything to wear!" she said in a panicked voice.
The older woman calmed significantly. "Oh…Miki…are you going on a date?"
She straightened herself so fast she felt a shock of pain run down her spine.
"D-D-Date?" she squeaked.
Her aunt ignored her and eyed the pile of clothes scattered across her bed. "Why don't you wear this?" She pulled out a matcha green romper and a thick cream cardigan. "You can wear the boots I bought you a week ago and the white knee-high socks your cousin gave you yesterday? That might look cute."
Miki merely stared at the older woman in a mixture of surprise and awe. How did she end up living with such a cool aunt?
"It is getting a little cold so bring this jacket and wear this scarf. You can put these in this cute backpack." The woman continued as she pulled out a few more things from her closet. "You have so many cute clothes, Miki-chan! I'm so happy I have such a pretty niece who can wear all these cute and pretty things!"
"Auntie…" the girl protested embarrassedly.
"Don't stay out too late!" Her aunt put her hands on her hips and playfully glared at her. "You can never trust teens these days."
"Ba-chan!"
She laughed. "Fine, fine. I trust you, Miki. Have a good time and let me know when you are going to come home."
"Sure, auntie." Miki nodded in relief. She really didn't know how her aunt would react to her going on a date.
"Now go change! You don't want to keep your date waiting!"
"Right!" She straightened quickly and grabbed the outfit her aunt picked out for her.
Miki wasn't surprised to see the boy waiting for her at the library. She just hoped she wasn't late.
"Midorima-kun!" she waved at the green-haired boy, effectively getting his attention. "I hope I'm not late."
"Only two minutes." He stated.
"Oh…" she bit down on her lip. She hoped he wasn't mad. "Well…I'm sorry."
"It's not a problem." Midorima said nonchalantly. "I hadn't expected you to be early."
She laughed. "I suppose I am a little like that."
It was a little embarrassing for her, but she didn't want to damper the mood by sulking at the boy's words. She knew he never meant to hurt anyone intentionally. He was just a little rough around the edges.
"We should get going now." The green-haired basketball player said. "I don't want to fall behind my schedule. I made sure to avoid places and things Oha Asa mentioned to bring misfortune to a Pisces and Cancer."
"I see, thank you."
Her crush looked away from her in slight embarrassment and re-positioned his glasses higher on the bridge of his nose.
"There's nothing to thank me for."
"So where are we going?" she asked the boy as the two started walking. Midorima was a step in front of her, carefully guiding her to their destination.
"Oha Asa mentioned that surprises will benefit Pisces today." He merely stated.
"So…you aren't going to tell me?"
"Precisely."
Miki pouted slightly in disappointment. She was never really good with surprises. Her reactions were rather…much.
"It won't be like a surprise birthday party kind of surprise, right?" She inquired hesitantly.
"What does a 'surprise birthday party kind of surprise' mean?"
"Like over the top surprise."
"I don't think so. What would an 'over the top surprise' entail?"
She thought for a moment. "Taking me out to a lavish restaurant or doing something completely unexpected."
"I must certainly don't have the money to take you out to a 'lavish restaurant'." He shook his head with a slight smile. "So it wouldn't be an 'over the top surprise'."
"Then I'm okay." She nodded in relief.
"What is wrong with an 'over the top surprise' anyway?"
He was surprisingly conversational. Miki smiled as she realized the boy was making an effort on their…date.
"My reactions." She admitted sheepishly. "I have fainted from a surprise birthday party before."
Miki was pleasantly surprised to hear the boy let out a few chuckles before masking them with an awkward cough. "I-I see…"
"You can laugh." She grinned in amusement as she watched her crush try to regain his composure.
He shook his head and let out a deep sigh. "I'm fine."
She couldn't help but let out a few giggles. It was very endearing to see the tsundere trying to put his indifferent and brusque façade up again.
Midorima glared at her.
"S-Sorry, Midorima-kun…"
The two fell into a comfortable silence as Miki watched the boy ponder over his thoughts. He was clearly thinking of something and seemed to want to say something to her.
"…Shintaro…"
Her ears perked up at the quiet grumble. She completely missed what he had said.
"Pardon?"
"Y-You can call me…Shintaro." Midorima mumbled shyly, his face beet red. "I believe we are close enough to drop all formalities."
Her lips broke out into a wide smile. She couldn't believe the progress they made. "O-Of course, S-Shintaro-kun! And you can call me, Miki."
"Very well…Miki."
Miki felt like her heart was going to beat out of her chest as she heard her crush utter her name.
They certainly made progress compared to their first encounter. She could hardly believe she thought the boy would bring her bad luck! He had been nothing but kind and helpful to her. For that, she felt she owed him something.
They had wound up in a basketball court. Miki didn't know whether she was surprised or not.
"Are…you going to show me something again?" she asked him slowly.
Midorima shook his head and pulled out a basketball from his bag. "No. Let's play."
Miki felt her eyes widen. "Um…play?" she squeaked.
The boy scrutinized her. "I can teach you."
"R-Really?" she bit down on her lip. "U-Um…you don't have to."
"I want to." He shook his head. "Unless…you don't want to." His voice faltered uncertainly as his face fell as well.
"N-No!" she straightened upon seeing her crush's crestfallen face. "I'll do it!"
Midorima smiled.
Oh! He has such a nice smile! She thought to herself as she openly admired the boy.
All of his features seemed to light up as his lips curled up into a bright yet small smile. Miki also noted that his teeth were perfect to the point of jealousy. His teeth were perfectly straight and unfairly white.
Why did boys have to always look good naturally? Why couldn't girls be the same as boys?
Midorima's smile faltered slightly. "Is…there anything wrong?"
Miki nearly slapped herself to snap out of her gawking. The things the boy did to her were just unfair. She never failed to look like a fool in front of him.
"N-No!" she vehemently denied. "Let's just…play."
He studied her carefully and nodded. "Follow me."
She carefully followed after the tall green-haired boy as the two slowly approached the center of the basketball court.
He vigilantly gauged her reaction as she drank in the feeling of being on the court. It wasn't nearly as professional as the court from Inter High, but it still gave off a foreign sensation to the petite girl.
"This feels…strange." Miki murmured as she drank in her surroundings. "I feel so tiny."
With her small and thin 156 cm frame, she felt as though the court was swallowing her up.
Midorima's upper lip twitched slightly before he started to dribble the ball. "Do you know how to dribble?" he asked her.
She frowned. "I-I can't say I do…It's been years since I have last touched a basketball for the means of playing."
"I see," he nodded and caught the ball with ease. His movements were almost graceful and elegant. It was like a dance of some sort. "Give me your hand."
A chill ran down her spine and her stomach started to flutter. "W-What?"
"Give me your hand." He stated as he offered her a hand.
How could she ever say no to that?
She gulped nervously before shakily placing her small hand on top of his much larger ones with her palms facing the sky.
Midorima gently took hold of her wrist and pointed her palms towards the ground. With his other hand, he spread her curled fingers slightly.
Miki felt as though her heart was going to beat out of her chest. She was all too aware of his touches – they seared into her skin as though she was getting branded.
"Don't be tense, but don't be too relaxed either." He instructed. "You want your fingers to curl into the ball's curve. Otherwise, you may jam your fingers and lose control of the ball."
He left his hand wrapped around her wrist, but let the other take the ball resting under his armpit.
"Use your palms to push the ball to the ground. You will want the ball to reach your stomach when you dribble. However, when you want to go faster, you will want to keep the ball lower to the ground."
He placed the ball under her hand and let go of her wrist. He put his left hand over her right and pushed the ball to the ground.
"Like that."
Miki stiffened as she realized how close their bodies were to each other. She could practically feel the warmth radiating from her crush's body.
Midorima must have realized the same as he immediately drew away from her, making her lose control of the ball. It bounced from the ground, its height getting lower and lower each time, before it eventually rolled off to the side.
"T-Thank you," she whispered with her cheek aflame in embarrassment.
"Y-You're welcome." He stuttered as he pushed his glasses up his nose. "Let me just get the ball…"
"R-Right…"
Miki remained frozen in her spot as she felt her heart drum loudly in her chest. Her stomach felt cold as the strange yet pleasant fluttering feeling took over.
She looked down at her right hand and smiled slightly.
It had all felt surreal. He had touched her hand. It may not have been the same as holding hands, but Miki imagined that it hadn't been far off from the real thing.
She brought her hand up to her chest and sighed as she realized her feelings for the boy had somehow grown stronger. It wasn't exactly love, but it was a little more than a small crush.
She wanted to make sense of the feelings she carried for the bespectacled boy, but found that she couldn't. Nothing made sense when it came to her crush.
And she couldn't say she disliked that either.
A/N: Yep! I made up my absence with this extra fluffy chapter! Hope you guys liked it! I certainly enjoyed writing this out :)
Anyway, I don't know when I will be able to upload the next chapter as I am pretty packed right now with school, beta-reading, and Divine Will. Hopefully, I won't have to make you guys wait as long as you had to!
If you guys would like to see some more fluffy scenes with Miki and Midorima and have some suggestions, feel free to leave it in the reviews! I will take some suggestions into consideration!