☆ la floraison

He didn’t look away.

“Then maybe I should be careful,” he said quietly, voice lower now, meant only for her ears. “I don’t want to make a promise I can’t keep.”

But he wasn’t stepping back.

In fact, he was still moving forward—just a little, just enough. Just enough for her perfume to catch the air between them, something clean and bright and completely her. His hand lifted, hesitant for a breath, then found a resting place under her chin, the lightest of touches. A question, not a claim, as he tilted her head up.

There was something reverent about the way his tone lowered with each step closer, with each hair's breath crossed. As though something broke, or something built, when his hand found her skin. A feather's caress.

Perhaps, the word promise became a bridge they didn't know would build.

She looked up at him, or perhaps he guided her gaze; she couldn't quite tell who had leaned into the moment first (maybe both). But somehow, standing there, he felt less like just another basketball player and more like a man with something unspoken to prove.

Her smile met his, curious and cautious, and with just a little too much hope. “Hey now…” she said, the words softly teasing, a blend of humour and gentleness. “…aren’t we on opposing teams?” Her fingers tapped lightly against his chest (heart) as a quiet laugh slipped free. “Too much luck and you might end up winning your game.”

But the glint in her bright pink gaze? Winning might not be such a bad thing after all.

“You’re right,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. “It’s kind of impossible to forget something like that.” His gaze lingered on her, a little longer now, a little deeper, searching not just for meaning, but for permission. For courage.

A pause, just long enough for the moment to settle between them like sunlight after rain. Then, Kiyoshi took a small step forward, shortening the distance she’d placed between them.

“…So what happens if I kiss you back?” he asked, voice warm, sincere, and just bold enough to match her energy. “Do we double the luck?” He tilted his head slightly, inviting, gentle.

She believed, for a fleeting moment, that she held the advantage as pride bloomed quietly in her chest like a secret flower. But the illusion shattered the instant he stepped forward, calm as ever, untouched by her game.

A sportsman, through and through. Grace in every calculated move.

Her vivid pink gaze stayed fixed on his, a silent current thrumming beneath her skin, keeping her still even as her thoughts raced. Maybe he wasn’t as oblivious as rumours claimed. Maybe he never had been.

“Well…” she murmured, the weight of the moment drawing out each word. How far could this dance go? “Once might be an accident. Twice, for luck. But the third…” A charm, of course.

“…Feels more like a promise.” Of something yet to come. Something more.

Kisumi listened to her description of past experiences. “Well it couldn’t be all bad. The way you talk about it now with me makes it seem you had some spark. Back when I was younger no one wanted to play with me.” He admitted.

At the time it was a daunting task to go up and repeatedly ask someone to join him to only get rejected yet again. Or at times when people did offer to play along side of him, his skill were intimidating and made the other person become discouraged and disinterested.

Some spark.

Satsuki wondered if the brighter the lightning against the night sky only made the darkness more prominent though. She returned his soft smile with an equally soft one. He was right. If only the lightning shines bright, perhaps then, it's worth a bit of darkness.

"I'm glad you never gave up then..." Even the thawing ice felt a tad warmer in her hands. Maybe this person has fought on a similar path.

"Some spark... Say, have you ever had fractured friendships because of this sport? I mean, it's easier to lose the whole thing, but if it's only a fracture..." Perchance a different persepective would open up a world of difference. She looked him in the eyes; some earnest. "How would.. or would you mend it?"

[ 🦈 ] — At the silence Rin wondered if he was out of like. Like who would want to meet up with a total stranger at a time like this. He probably got her nervous especially since she was supposed to talk to someone else.

He opened his mouth to apologize for asking such a rude thing, he heard her voice over the phone and the loud crashing of thunder and lightning in the background.

"Yeah, I'm around Toyko. I'm close to Kichijoji Sun Road, the one where they have tons of places to eat. Can we meet there and I'll bring you an umbrella?"

Satsuki was feeling incredibly apologetic for a multitude of things at this point. To ask a favour when already in debt was a little beyond her, yet with the looming premonition of bad weather, (and the compassionate display of kindness), it was definitely a little difficult to refuse the offer.

"Ah, you're in Kichijoji too. I was down by Medic's Gym earlier, so I think I'm about 10 minutes away. Mm.. how about in front of the 7-11 on Sun Road?" She added a hint before they hung up. "I have pink hair, that should be easy to spot. See you soon, kind stranger."

Later, on the way though, Satsuki really couldn't help but wonder what the other was like. A light baritone created an image of a young, bright sort of person.

The anticipation felt a little like the curtain rise before a thrilling theatrical show.

[ 🦈 ] — Rin smiled as she apologized for her mistake, and he wasn't about to get mad since it was only an honest misunderstanding. He then hummed, hoping to ease her embarrassment with his words...

"Ah, don't worry about it. It happens to the best of us."

As he continued to listen, he frowned, as it looked like he might be in a bit of trouble. Wondering if he could help her out, the redhead decided to ask just in case.

"Um, if you don't mind...I could help you out. If it's going to rain, you shouldn't be outside by yourself in this weather."

She lowered her phone and stared at it in surprise. The sincerity laced in the other's tone sounded like a different language for a moment. Satsuki couldn't stop the minute of doubt that passed through her. It was something she wasn't used to recently, stressed out as she was, with a certain pro basketball player.

This world still had kind people in it (no, really).

"Er..." The phone was against her ear again, but the hesitance remained. Could she ask that favour or was this where she ought to be more cautious?

It was the flash of distant lightning, a firework in the sky, that jolted her into deciding. "Um... if you're in Tokyo... and you wouldn't happen to have an umbrella on you, by any chance?"

Not two words used often to describe him but Kisumi took the compliment when he could get it. He was probably much more humble than he should be but Kisumi didn’t get the chance to always play with a good team. He was very much grateful being a rookie knowing he would have to earn his keep and continue pushing hard to stay on as a starter.

He definitely needed to hit the gym a hell of a lot more than he was.

Kisumi luckily had taken a seat when he had because if he had she would have knocked him the fuck out. The pressure of the ice pack against his nose was jarring. He bit down on his tongue trying not to curse. That wasn’t gentlemanly at all. Hissing out Kisumi assured her he was alright, “Not a problem.” He forced out before tilting his head back until it rested on the wall behind him.

He wasn’t sure if the ball or the ice pack was worst.

She blanched and couldn't help wincing just as he did. Ouch. That must have really hurt, and a considerable amount at that. A tingle of shame flowed through Satsuki and her ministrations paused.

Removing the icepack, she straightened up and held it in her palms, trying to thaw it with her body heat. The freezing touch sent an awful chill through her and it reminded her a little of the ache in her heart upon hearing his question. Darkened pink hues eyed the solid ice in thought.

The pain was numbing.

A soft sigh could be heard, then the flow of words in a much lower, subdued tone. "...I'm not sure if I miss it, to be honest." A swipe of the icepack, thumbing away the tiny frost particles as though they were slivers of memories resurfacing from eons long past.

"...Middle school basketball was particularly painful." She looked up and caught his bright hues, wondering if the sentiments were understandable. "Sorry, I'm not sure if you understand, but yeah..." She quirked a humourless smile. "Sports are supposed to build a team, but maybe we were too young to understand how to foster healthy team relationships?"

Or fix broken friendships at that.

[ 🦈 ] — As he picked up the call, Rin winched and immediately pulled the device from his ear before he became deaf. He didn't even dare interrupt the caller as she sounded pissed off. Whoever this Dai-chan was...he was dead meat if she got a hold of him.

He remained quiet, impressed by her knowledge of whatever training regimen she had for whoever she was talking to. Her knowledge about it made him a bit jealous. Once she finished her rant, he gave a small embarrassed chuckle,

"Ah, um...I think you have the wrong number. But to be honest, your training regimen is on point, if I knew you I would've followed every detail of it. hehe, sorry..."

The whistle of the passing breeze stung with its chill, but perhaps, it didn't sting just as much as the mistake at hand. The voice certainly didn't belong to a cold-hearted ass she knew. It was brighter, embarrassed yes, but also intrigued.

Something she hadn't heard in so long.

A distant rumble of thunder jolted her back to the call. She was surprised the receiver hadn't hung up in all honesty. "...You're not Aomine Daiki. I... Thanks, I- Sorry, I thought..." A stressed whisper to herself. "...Darn, he's supposed to come get me. ...And it's supposed to rain soon too..."

“We could have easily won by more..” he sighed knowing that his team needed some more time to play cohesively.

Kisumi’s brow quirked hearing about a “fan club”. “Eh? You think..” if he had a fan club he wasn’t currently aware. Younger in smaller schools he definitely had a following and it had been entirely suffocating. He couldn’t get a second alone. He wasn’t sure if that was due to his basketball skills or his looks. He was leaning towards the latter. Yet being at a far larger college he might have some admirers but maybe they were more mature than middle school girls.

She had to smile at his display of humbleness as they fumbled around the self-service first aid area for a disposable ice pack. Granted, she didn't know him at all and had never seen him play, even the surface appearance of analysis could only go so far. But she did know one thing from their brief interaction.

He loved this sport.

And a person who spoke that way, with a serious look in their eyes, critisizing their own skills, is definitely someone genuine; someone she could get behind.

"It takes a skilled player to know they're not skilled... and probably a serious one to not know their fanbase. Ah, you should sit." A gesture to the uncomfortable seats that lined the wall. She stood in front of him, helping him ice the slightly redden area of his nose, a look of focus and concern marring her features.

"Hmm definitely not broken. Does it hurt much? It shouldn't swell, but this ice would hel- Ack! Sorry!" Just a little too hard of a press. She smiled sheepishly and the thulian light in her eyes dimmed in slight. "It's been a while since I had to help someone with an injury. I'm out of practice."

It's been a while since she even had a team.

"hey, no need to pull, momocchi." he exclaimed, eyes blinked a few times while his feet continued along towards the river bank.

There was something nostalgic and endearing in the confusion that was painted so clearly on the blonde's face. Kise had something Aomine never had, and it was incredibly refreshing to Momoi.

"Secret... huh." She sighed, an odd sort of smile lifting the corners of her lips as she stared out beyond the blue, sapphire liquid. Definitely refreshing; double the clarity now that Kise was there.

A deep, deep breath was taken, before... “AHHHHHHHHHHH!” The scream echoed across the river, and with it, took a burden of sorrow. It shattered (more than just) the silence and tranquility. A few flutter of wings responded.

"...It's over, Ki-chan." And it sounded awfully hollow even to her own ears. It's all over.

it's been a while since kise saw momoi, while he lived rather far away; the blond came to tokyo occasionally for work. though this was fine, kinda. he somewhat expected for her to invite him to hang out for a while, was it because of kurokocchi? or was it because they don't see each other as much like they used to.

It wasn't a spur of the moment that saw her texting the blonde to meet up. Although it had been forever and an age since they'd all met, and basketball in fact, felt like forever and two ages, but there was an indescribable nostalgia she'd felt for Kise and his effervescence.

It had to be him and no one else.

She tugged at his arm, pulling him along in spite of his endless stream of curiosity and chatter. "C'mon, Ki-chan! We're almost there!" The tugging and pulling, (with soft, knowing smiles laced in between), continued until they reached the edge of a quiet river bank. The cooling breeze painted a breath of freshness against the clear blue water and the lush green lawn where they stood—a nook away from the world. Even the little ducks gliding past told no secrets.

"We're here!" A triumphant annoucement as she turned to face golden hues. She'd anticipated his confusion.

“I’ve been playing since middle school.” He supplied as they continued their walk across the bustling quad of collage kids. Everyone seemed to be talking or hanging outside in the nice weather. He much preferred this.

She nodded appreciatively at his kind and patient explanations, revelling in the beauty of the words spoken out loud about a time in her past when she'd once wished could last an eternity. Managers, members, seniors, middle school, play, gel well.

          Team.

A genuine smile with a tinge of nostalgia graced her lips, but her excitement was telling. "Fights are inevitable, but that's amazing. Since middle school... would make you like a veteran player now?" The question took on a teasing tone, but the admiration never left. "It's been ages since I've seen a live game. How did your previous match go? Was it a win?"

She motioned to the building ahead of them. "Oh, and here we are. Come, let's get that ice onto you. Your fanclub will be after my blood if they see a bruise on you!" And a soft chuckle rang through the quad, intertwining with the light breeze—as gentle.

“I’m Kisumi.” He stated suddenly as he began to walk beside her towards the eastern infirmary. Luckily he personally didn’t need to attend it often at all. He held the baseball under his arm for a moment before passing it back over to his escort. "So you seem to know a great deal. Do you play?" he questioned.

"I'm happy with point guard." He shrugged, "I don't think I would make the move to small forward unless there was a dire need for me to shift." He was comfortable with his teammates thus far and certainly didn't want to ruffle feathers with a position change.

A soft smile graced her features at the proclamation of his confidence. It was a kind of nostalgia much like the pebbles on the basketball he handed back to her, tinged with roughness and fondness.

"Nice to meet you, Kisumi-kun. I'm Momoi Satsuki," she relayed back an answer to the unsaid question, approving of the composure in the other. There was something charismatic that came with possessing the skills of a point guard. "I don't play... or have much to do with basketball any more, but I used to help manage a team back in high school."

She slowed her steps some to let passing students overtake them. The distant chatter of campus life painted such a different, vibrant realm to high school. "Have you been playing for long? What's TakaDai's team like here?" A twinkle of wistful excitement. "I assume they must have a few strings... Do you get to compete much?"