"Seijuro... I hear your team won the national championships." Seijuro's father was seated at the other end of the dining table, finished with his meal, and drinking his coffee. Seijuro knew he didn't care about his well-being. The only thing he cared about his son was Seijuro's achievements. "How is your schoolwork looking?"

"No issues" was Seijuro's reply. In truth, he wanted to tell his father more, about the school festival, about him joining Shelter, about Risa Mikaela, but he couldn't. His father had long before built an impregnable wall between him and others. No one had gotten close to him since his beloved wife died. Since then, Seijuro and he hadn't shared a real father-and-son conversation.

"That's fine," said the older man, "keep doing both how you have been. Being versed in letters and arms... A man from the Akashi family must excel in all fields."

"Yes, father," the boy looked down at his plate. He already lost his appetite.

Masaomi sipped on his coffee and placed it back on the table. "In all fields."

+0+0+0+0+

After the school festival, Mika and Shelter were back to their usual works. True to his word, Akashi submitted a form to join Shelter. Whenever he had time, he would drop by their little club room and help. However, Mika and Akashi had been spending less time alone, the boy being busy with his works at the student council and the games of the basketball team. But, when they were together, it was like paradise for the two. Akashi was even tutoring her now and then, making her focus also on her studies.

In her part, wanting to support the boy, Mika had cheered on Akashi in every game until they won the finals. Now, the basketball club was also back to its usual practices.

This day, it was already winter, and Christmas was near. Mika stayed with Akashi in the classroom after class was over. She doodled in her notebook as the boy peered at what she was writing.

"Kanji?" he asked, staring at the characters written on the girl's notebook.

The girl replied, "I'm thinking of deciding on a kanji for my name. Risa Mikaela is too long. Mika would do. I just wanted to try it."

Akashi borrowed her pen and scribbled on the paper. "美加 as in beauty and increase," he said while writing, "美香 is okay too. Beautiful fragrance." Then he looked intently at her.

"W-what?" Mika was uncomfortable at his studying gaze. His beautiful red eyes were sparkling.

The boy smiled. "I think this suits you best." He showed her what he wrote. "美火 . Mika. Beautiful fire."

Mika's inside became warm despite the cold. "I don't think it suits me. I-it's too much."

"No. It's perfect for you."

The two were so close to each other that they could feel each other's breath. Slowly, Akashi moved even closer to her, like he was magnetized by Mika's presence. The girl didn't move. Could this finally be it? Their long-awaited first ki--

"Akashi-kun, here's the data you-- Oh my gosh!" Momoi was standing in the classroom's doorway, a stack of files in her arms. "I-I'm sorry-- I'll just-- Please continue."

The girl was about to leave but Mika spoke, tearing herself away from Akashi. "No! It's okay." She forced a laugh. "This is nothing. We weren't doing anything. At all." She stood up. "Just. You stay. I'll go. We've been waiting for you anyway."

"Mika-san," Akashi called her. She turned to him, still blushing. "I'll be going abroad for a short-term exchange program starting tomorrow. I guess you already heard. I'll see you after New Year."

"O-okay." She exited the room.

+0+0+0+0+

The Shelter club room was empty. Again. Lately, the members had been busy filling their free time with new friends and, in Jun's case, girlfriend. Not that Mika minded. She was actually happy for them. And they didn't slack off with Shelter's works anyway. Shelter's members were now over thirty and they were expecting more next school year. Mika was really glad. Things couldn't get any better.

Today, she wanted to be with people, too, so she took her wallet and strode to the school cafeteria. On her way, a lot of students greeted her. Again. She could never get used to it. She smiled awkwardly at them and waved a little.

"Risa-san." It was the strict teacher, Mrs. Kaneda, who 'helped' talk to Haruto when he was planning to jump from the school building's rooftop. "I just want to tell you that you have been doing well in our classes." The cold-hearted teacher actually smiled at her. "Good job and keep it up."

Mika felt a glow of happiness. "Thank you, ma'am."

The teacher left her and Mika went into the school canteen. Almost all of the students were curious and asking her about her food, her studies, and of course... Akashi. She sighed as she set her tray on the table and sat on her chair.

"So, how does it feel being the school's queen?" Murasakibara was munching on some sweets as Midorima glowered at him.

Mika was seated at the table of the Generation of Miracles, as usual. It also became her place in the cafeteria.

"Empress, Murasakibaracchi, empress is the right term, right Risacchi?" said Kise.

"E-empress... I don't know..." she answered honestly. She knew how big Akashi's influence was on her current social status at school, but, frankly, she didn't care. She'd rather not think about it and just be glad she was improving both in her studies and in being with other people.

"So modest, Mi-chan!" Momoi's smile didn't reach her eyes.

Come to think of it, the girl must have been worried about her childhood friend, Aomine. She heard he'd been skipping practice and a lot of classes. "Where's Aomine-san?" Mika asked the beautiful girl.

The sadness in her eyes was apparent. "At the rooftop. He wanted to be alone. He won't listen nor talk to me nowadays." Mika thought the girl was about to cry, but she smiled at her instead and hooked an arm around Kuroko's. "Don't worry about that Mi-chan! Christmas is coming! Are you going out with Akashi-kun? I'll be having a sweet date with Tetsu-kun!"

Kuroko had his usual poker face. "Akashi-kun is in another country for the whole of December, Momoi-san. And, I'll be spending Christmas with my family."

"Eh?!" The beautiful girl looked genuinely dejected. "But Christmas is for lovers!" She hugged the boy too tightly. "I'll miss you sooo much!"

Christmas was for lovers? And people were expecting Mika to spend it with Akashi if he was free? Hadn't they been telling the people over and over again that they weren't dating? But they didn't believe her or Akashi. Mika sighed.

"Risa-san," the gossiper Nakamura stopped at their table. "Akashi-san's live interview should air by now. Want to watch it in front?"

Akashi's live interview?

Right, the exchange program he was participating in was something big and well-known. And, he'd always been in the spotlight because of the wealth and influence of his very powerful family.

Should she watch it? While all the students also watching her every reaction? There's nothing she could do about that. She wanted to support Akashi so she would.

"Of course," she replied and took her sandwich with her, thinking of eating it while she watched. The other Generation of Miracles, done with their lunch, went with her to the front of the crowd.

The school's TV showed a commercial on the screen. The students were all talking loudly to each other, but when the program started, they went quiet and focused on the show.

The "Program for the Future," they said, was an exchange program with participants from different countries for the future of their nations. Only students from known, prestigious families were allowed to be its participants and the highlight of the program was the participation of Japan's most illustrious family--the Akashi.

Shown on TV was a brief background of Akashi Group's sole heir, Akashi Seijuro, and then his achievements both in school and sports. When he appeared on screen for his live interview, the students of Teiko clapped and cheered.

Akashi looked regal in his maroon suit and he had an easy smile--his work smile, Mika distinguished--that he showed to strangers or people he met for the first time.

The boy greeted the interviewer with respect and then proceeded to answer the questions one by one, with ease, they remarked. He was used to this.

Then, he was asked about his love life.

Do they have to? To a kid? Mika said to herself. But the whole crowd was looking and smiling at her.

The interviewer faced the camera and said to Akashi, "Your fiance must be watching, would you like to wave at the camera?"

The school chuckled.

What fiance?

Akashi beamed at the camera.

The interviewer then asked, "So, are you excited to spend the holidays with your beautiful fiance, the heir of Regal Corp., Shimizu Fuyuko?"

Beautiful... fiance?

Heir of Regal Corp.?

Shimizu... what?

"Of course," Akashi replied to the question, while footage of Akashi with a beautiful female around their age played on screen: Akashi sitting beside Shimizu Fuyuko, Akashi helping her out of the car, Akashi talking to her while smiling.

Mika's chest tightened so much it physically hurt.

What was happening? Who was that girl and why was it the first time she saw and knew about her?

She heard gasps from the crowd and felt their eyes on her.

The interviewer asked a couple of questions more about Akashi and the interview ended. The people were talking to each other and she didn't notice that the Generation of Miracles were calling her name. It was already cold but the room suddenly turned even colder.