Seventh Letter

"Good morning, Aomine-kun," Kuroko greeted his best friend who looked like he was out of his mind this morning. The tanned male looked down and stayed silent for awhile as if what he's seeing for today wasn't real.

"Uh, yeah, morning, Tetsu," Aomine greeted, his tone low, losing all of the liveliness that it always have, every time he greets his best friend every morning.

Kuroko looked at his friend curiously, wondering what was happening to him. He was so out of it.

"Later," Aomine mumbled walking past Kuroko and regaining his out-of-it face.

"Morning, Tetsu-kun," Momoi greeted, she too was crestfallen but she didn't let all of her sadness appear in front of her crush.

"Good morning, Momoi-san," Kuroko greeted, his oval azure eyes scanning the girl's magenta ones.

"Oh, did Dai-chan walk ahead again?"

"He did"

Momoi sadly smiled, "You see… Kuroko-kun… something like this happened…"

. . . .

"Are you playing a joke on me, no way?!" Aomine grumbled, shooting a glare at Momoi accusing her of what happened to the letter.

"It wasn't my fault!"

He looked at the letter again, it wasn't finished, the only thing written there was the kanji character of his name that and nothing else.

Aomine scoffed, he didn't know why the letter was empty, it seems like it was done in purpose. For some reason, he wanted some proper answers to his questions. He wanted to know what Hanabi wanted to say in her last letter. He really felt disappointed when he saw it empty.

He was searching for the words that would calm his yearning feelings, he never felt them before and it brought confusion. He wanted to clear that confusion as fast as possible.

"Geez…" he scratched the back of his head, pushing his brain to think wouldn't work at all.

He breathed hard, this will surely be a long day.

. . . .

The day ended with its usual routine, the basketball practice, walking with Kuroko and Momoi while having an unexpected guest namely by the name of Kise and having some popsicles together in a convenience store.

These were his days of peace, but right now, he was wondering what peace and happiness would mean to her. If it would be apparent or if it would be abstract, he didn't know.

He was questioning himself why he let some days passed without even thinking deeply on the situation. On her situation, he never did pay attention too much, to the changes that he's capable to see. He turned a blind eye to it—though that's what Hanabi wants—he should have been more sensitive to it though.

It might've helped him right now.

"Hey, Tetsu, what day is it today?"

Kuroko looked at him, his blank face—which still remains blank but not curios at all—was turned to him. "It's the end of July, Aomine-kun," Kuroko's eyes seemed to lighten with curiosity for a while.

The answer didn't help him at all, the end of July…

And the end of June.

A month with barely three days, seventy two hours and some seconds left.

Hanabi knew that, she knew that soon the happy days that she treasured too much will come rushing down to an end. She knew but she can't accept it. She had always believed that looking at something positively would make her heroic and nice. But she can't think of anything positive right now, she's only human. And humans are always fickle to pain.

She was afraid. Afraid that once she disappeared, she wouldn't be able to see Aomine laughing, she won't be able to watch him playing basketball, never hear him talk about the basketball players that he adored so much, and she will never hear his heavy footsteps whenever he walks to her room.

She would miss all of them, and it made her heart burst that she wanted to cry.

But at that time—the most unexpected one—he arrived.

"Yo, Akiko, Satsuki is still down there—" Aomine stopped on his tracks, his face turning blank as soon as he saw her cry.

She let the tears flow for awhile and forgave Aomine for not moving from where he was standing. He appeared after all, by the time she wanted to see him.

"A-Akiko, do you feel sick? What's wrong?" Aomine finally walked to her, he was simply surprised and had never thought of encountering a situation like these—since he was spending time with Momoi, who don't easily cry when he teases her, he felt like these situations are so foreign.

He walked to her, not really knowing what to do.

She quickly wiped her tears off, ending what he would have planned inside his head.

"D-Don't worry, Aomine-kun. This is just some 'Death Blues', you see… everyone who's near to death would cry and think about how they've put their lives on daily activities. Think of what they regretted and of the happy moments that they've felt," she explained, speaking quickly to hide the pain that she was feeling.

Besides, if Aomine treasured her so much, he might not be able to come back to what he should be if she died.

That's the only thought that keeps her of thinking of something selfish. It was what's keeping her sane for a moment.

"Stop talking about death casually, you're still alive, aren't you?" Aomine asked, getting annoyed all of a sudden. "You're just teasing me, right?"

Hanabi was surprised but soon a small smile formed itself on her lips. You're cluelessness is always your best weapon, Aomine–kun. Ignorance is always bliss, huh?

"Aomine-kun, when I told you I hated the fireworks did you really get my answer back then?"

He scratched the back of his head, his own way of expressing embarrassment. He was way too honest for his own good. But that was one of the things that she admired about him.

Seeing this as a sign, she continued, "I hated the fireworks because their beauty last quickly, it should continue being beautiful, right? Not to just disappear after showing the world how pretty it was"

She was talking about herself. But Aomine failed to notice it that time. He only nodded, pretending to get it though he didn't really get what she meant that time.

If only I had paid more attention to it… If only—

The settling sun basked the room with its bright orange countenance, the once dark room started to lighten a little. It also started the countdown of someone who was about to say goodbye. 10…9…8…7…

"Hanabi-chan, always be careful, okay?" Momoi gave her cousin a huge grin and a pleased look. 6…5…4…

"Thank you, Satsuki-chan," Hanabi smiled, since it would be the last time that she'll be doing that in front of these people—these people that she treasured the most.

The sun continued to set, going to its slumber. Its rays finally disappeared on the horizon. 3… 2…1…

"Fare well, Aomine-kun, Satsuki-chan"

. . . .

[A/N: Ignore this note as fast as you can, I definitely cried in this part]

"Daiki, clean you room or else I'll throw all of these!" his mother yelled, getting infuriated by her son's room. It was always a mess, and she didn't have the mood to clean it herself.

Aomine got off from where he was with a frown. He was already in the brink of sleep, but here his mother was, not really caring about his situation.

"Fine, fine," he grumbled walking to his room and started to clean some stuff and tried to fix the mess that he himself created. He moved things around, which make some annoying sounds that just annoyed his mother further.

He groaned, his mood getting darker than usual. First, it was the last letter and now the dilemma of his room's mess.

He sighed pushing all his basketball magazines away, until something fell out from one of them. He looked down, puzzled only for his eyes to widen.

Down there, was an innocent pink envelope, which waited for his attention for a long time. It was the last letter that he was searching for. He stood there for a long time, eyes fixated on the letter.

This time, he feels like he shouldn't read it even though it would answer most of his questions. Like, something inside him will break if he read it. All his life he had never read anything depressing. Basketball had never been depressing or his R-18 magazines. Everything just brought him happiness which contradicts Hanabi's letters. It only stirred something different inside him. It was something that he never wanted to feel in the first place.

The silence waited, with only the clock ticking for him. He waited also, until he was able to swallow hard and pick it up.

When he opened the letter and read its contents, a tear which didn't fell on Hanabi's funeral fell willingly down his cheeks. He felt his heart tightening, like there was something that gripped it tightly. It forbids him to breathe properly, and for his heart to beat its usual beats.

Everything seemed to slow down, as he heard what broke inside him. This is what Hanabi had feared, she wanted Aomine's happiness not his pity.

But she can't stop that, because from the very depths of the tanned male's heart, she was special.

The feeling was overwhelming that all he can do was stand there with trembling hands.

"I should've realized it sooner…"

Dear Daiki-kun,

(I'm sorry for addressing you by your first name, I will never do it again…)

I'm sorry again if I won't be able to watch your game in the Nationals, I want to cheer you on, but I might not be around by that time. I hope you could win the competition though (:

Aomine-kun, please always smile, you seem to shine that way and I never get tired of watching you. I just felt like time always slow down whenever you show me your happy face. It makes me happy too, and it makes me feel like I was so blessed.

You're overflowing with energy something that I don't have in this kind of life. I'm thinking that maybe I really envied you, deep inside. But I could never hate you, Aomine-kun.

Despite my clumsy nature and my act before you think attitude(which you never seem to care about), you still accepted me. Because we're friends, right? And friends always turn a blind eye to their friend's weakness and only mind their strengths.

When I was young, they always tell me how bad my fate is, that I should deserve a happy life. I was tired of listening to it because it just made me feel small and unable to do what the others can. But when you came, you showed me a lot of things that I am capable of.

That's why, I actually want to tell you how special you are for me…

Whenever you're around, the sun seems to always brighten my day.I can't help but feel light headed and happy So, I'm really hoping that you feel the same

I may not be able to make you smile always, but I wanted to be there, to listen to your problems. Or help you with your assignments… I want to try my best to make you happy

I'm also glad that you didn't treat me the way others do, that's why I'm more than glad to meet you

I like you, Aomine-kun

A four leaf clover was attached to the paper so with a smiley beside it that says, 'Ganbatte'

It made the tears fall continuously, which was rare for him. Very rare.

. . . .

Three summers had passed, and Aomine still stayed the same. Though some changed in him, his interest in Basketball was already on the edge. He already started lazing off and ignoring practice and even games.

Hanabi would've been sad to see his resolve relinquished but what can she do, she was just a preserved fragment in his wave of memories. Nonetheless, she was never forgotten, her memories with him were still there.

Aomine and Kuroko exited the convenience store where they always buy some popsicles. Aomine was silent at that time, since this might be the last time that he would probably spend some time with his best friend.

Because of his overwhelming talent and the effect of that to his opponents made his pride high. It made him wish for someone stronger than those weak basketball players that Teiko Middle School was defeating.

"Aomine-kun, if you don't open your popsicle it will melt," Kuroko advised, taking the tanned male's attention.

"I know that, you don't have to tell me," he grumbled opening his popsicle, showing the blue ice cream from inside.

"Aomine-kun, you seem to skip practices frequently," Kuroko dropped the bomb, and asked straightforwardly. For a moment, Aomine thought of an answer, he lifted his head to the darkening sky, searching for what he wanted to say.

"I just keep on getting better, Tetsu. No one's bothering to guard me at all, if all the games are too easy then what am I playing it for?"

"Aomine-kun…"

Their conversation was interrupted by someone who's been yelling while running past them. Aomine froze and his eyes widened a little at the sight of a girl—who was probably on the last year of grade school—which caught his utmost attention. Even Kuroko followed his gaze, wondering what it is about.

"Aozora-kun! Aozora-kun!"

One thing in particular, was that the girl's hair was in the dark shade of pink. Something that Aomine have seen before.

"What is it, Akiko?" a tanned boy, holding a basketball turned to the lively girl who was waving a paper plane for the boy to see.

"Here… here… I made this!" the girl yelled in delight. "It's cute, right?"

"Weren't you supposed to make a paper crane?" the boy named, 'Aozora' asked, whipping a curious eye at the paper plane.

"Crane?" the girl names, 'Akiko' inquired, before she suddenly gasped in shock. "Yeah, crane! I misheard, Aozora-kun!"

Aomine tightened his hold to the wooden part of his popsicle. A feeling stirred in his stomach as he watched the two, which looked like friends talk to each other.

He felt his lips curl in a small smile, and shrugging he turned around again.

He still feels sad but that's how life is, he needs to move on.

"Maybe I should go to practice for awhile…" he told the wind, not particularly Kuroko.

"That's good to hear, Aomine-kun…" Kuroko commented, "Anyway, your popsicle is already melting"

"Hah!" Aomine tried to brush it off but it only make the ice cream fall from the wood. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?!" he grumbled, hating the fact that his best friend looks like seeing him in that form is enjoyable.

"You haven't complained too much in a while, Aomine-kun. Is there something wrong with you?"

"N-Nothing, there's nothing wrong with me at all," Aomine shook his head, looking up to the sky again. He definitely needs to move on and try to make hid life better.

The two of them are already walking away when the pink haired girl turned seeing only Aomine's back. Yet she smiled, the kind of smile that Hanabi would give Aomine every time she wants to console him.

"Akiko, we'll be late, already"

She turned to her friend and smiled again, "Let's go, Aozora-kun"

A/N: So, there it was ):

I ended up getting my chest tightened because I feel hurt for being so cruel to my character like "Why did I let you die?" *whimpers* I feel so horrible now, but what can I do? The storyline had flowed there and I can't change that already….

Thank you all for your kind favs and follows, I was able to carry on with everything that you've done for me ^-^

Hope we'll be able to interact again in the future

I feel like advertising the next story here, but since I'm too depressed please just check my profile page if you're interested. If not, I'm still grateful because you've read this (:

Thanks a lot, everything means a lot to me

I'll be on a hiatus for the first week of April, will be back on the 16th (: