Song: Ashita Boku Wa Kimi Ni Ai Ni Yuku by WAKABA

Meaning of the Japanese words/phrases used in this chapter:

Oishi: Delicious
Arigato: Thanks.
Douitashimashitte: You're welcome.
Gomenasai: Sorry.

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Hisa was as usual lost in the book in front of her, listening very carefully to every single word uttered by the teacher. Kise, on the other hand, was lost in gazing very carefully at Hisa trying to make sense of the events from the other day. He smiled to himself as he remembered how excited she looked when he asked about her love for books.

//-

"Neh Hisa-chan, why do you always read books?" Kise asked her as they sat on the bench behind the basketball court, hiding from the crowds.

"...because I love reading books...?" Hisa blinked as she stared at the piece of apple in her hand and then nibbled on it. "Oishi.." she whispered, deadpanned.

Kise grinned playfully. "Hisa-chan, you're cute~"

Hisa blushed and quickly swallowed the piece of apple. "Yoshi-nii used to bring me books when I was a kid. I started reading and then got addicted to it. And after that I started writing as well."

Kise blinked in surprise. "You're a writer!?"

Hisa looked at Kise and nodded. A sudden sheepish smile crept across her face adding a gratified edge to the determination flooding in her eyes. "I'm not really good yet... I write as a part timer but I'm going to become a full fledged writer soon! It's my dream!"

Kise gazed down at her with wide eyes for a few minutes then smiled. "You're cute indeed." He whispered.

Hisa flushed slightly as she gazed at him, her expression quite much of a puzzled one. "What...?"

Kise shook his head, still smiling. "I know you'll become a great writer, Hisachi!"

"... arigato..." Hisa raised an eyebrow. "-chi!?"

"I add 'chi' to the name of those I respect. Your determination is amazing, Hisachi."

The honesty in his words caused Hisa's eyes to widen in shock. She looked down at the lunch box in her lap. "...arigato, Kise-san."

Kise looked down at her, confused. "Hmm?"

Just as Hisa noticed the question in his gaze she flushed and stuffed another piece of apple in her mouth. She let herself calm down a bit as she quickly chewed it. After a long pause she opened her mouth to speak, her voice a low murmur only loud enough for Kise to hear. "...Kise-san is the only person who said that other than Yoshi-nii...s-so..."

Kise's eyes remained wide as he kept his gaze on Hisa. "...dou...itashimashitte..."
-//

Kise smirked. "It's getting interesting?" He laughed inwardly. "Why am I saying it as a question?"

-

"Kise-kun so cool!!!" Girls shouted as they watched Kise's dunk.

Kise looked at his fangirls and waved happily. His gaze dropped on the girl standing at the corner. Just as she realized she was spotted, she bowed and walked away.

"Hisachi?" Kise stared at the empty spot she was standing on.

As he sighed and turned back to practice he saw Kuroko smiling at him. Kise stared at Kuroko. "What?"

Kuroko shook his head and turned back for practice as well. "Nothing."

"Ehhhhhhhh!!! Something is up!!!" Kise exclaimed loudly. "Tell me, Kurokochi! Why were your lips quirked up in a weird way!?"

"Weird way? You formally call it smiling, Kise-kun." Kuroko glared.

"Not when Kurokochi does it. Tell me why were you... smiling?"

Kuroko stared at Kise for a few minutes and then sighed. "Fine." He looked Kise staright in the eyes as he said. "Kise-kun, you're in love with Hisa-san."

Just as Kuroko was about to turn back he saw Kise flustered. Kuroko sighed again and smiled. "Kise-kun, you're a baka."

"-W-What!?" Kise blinked at him in confusion. "Kurokochi!!! Wait!!!"

-

Kise had his brain cells on race to find the answer to Kuroko's blunt statement. Since he couldn't find any clue to anything in the end, he concluded on making it sure face to face!

Though he was still confused how Kuroko knew Hisa's name, he ignored it for the time being to focus on the task in hand.

He was staring at Hisa who was sitting across the desk in front of him. Suddenly, Hisa blushed. Kise blinked and then laughed awkwardly. "Gomen, gomen... I didn't mean to stare."

"...it's fine." She replied, narrowing her eyes on the notebook as if thinking something. Kise felt like he noticed a glimpse of tiredness in her eyes as she looked up at him. "Let's see the next question."

Kise nodded and focused back on the book.

Why didn't I think of anything better than study? It's boring and she looks exhausted...

Kise sighed staring at his notebook. He narrowed his eyes then looked back up at Hisa who was also staring at him. She looked surprised for a moment, then smiled. "Gomenasai."

Just one glimpse of that smile was enough for Kise to realize his feelings. He felt his heart skip a beat as he refused to look anywhere but her face.

This is bad... Kurokochi was right...

Kise studied her as she glanced at the books spread over the desk and then looked up at Kise. "Neh Kise-san?"

"Yes?"

"Did you want to talk about something?" Hisa asked looking straight at Kise.

Kise looked down at the books and his gaze stopped on the book that Hisa has been reading for the past few days.

"I write as a part timer but I'm going to become a full fledged writer soon! It's my dream!"

Just as her words from that day passed his mind, he felt sudden determination raising in his body. He felt his blood rushing in his veins, he looked up at Hisa.

"Hisachi... I like you."

Hisa stared at Kise, blinking her eyes, trying to make sense of Kise's words. "...arigato, Kise-san."

Kise looked at her for a few minutes then burst out laughing causing Hisa to blink more. "What!?"

Kise wiped the tear from his eye trying to catch his breath. Once he was calm he smiled playfully at her. "Like as in love, Hisachi."

Hisachi kawai sugi....

Hisa was still puzzled when she blinked one last time. Her eyes widened as realization struck her. Her face turned a shade of crimson red and she dropped her gaze down at the book again. Soon as she felt herself relaxing, she looked up at Kise who was still smiling.

She narrowed her eyes and then looked out of the window.

Kise wasn't sure if he did right by saying it out to her but he was sure he didn't do wrong. He had to tell her at some point so why not now. He had never felt so attached to a girl before but he saw Izumi Hisa differently. She acted around him differently. And he seemed to be looking for just that.

"Hisachi...?" Tell me I didn't ruin it...

She glanced back at the book then up at Kise. Kise stood up and gently placed his hands on Hisa's, his expression unusually serious. Kise leaned in and brushed his lips over Hisa's in a feather light kiss.

Her eyes wide with surprise, blushing hard, Hisa stared at Kise as he pulled away. "I love you, Hisachi." He whispered.

Hisa blinked and looked down at their hands. She entwined her fingers with Kise's and looking up at him she smiled. "Me too, Kise-san."

They kept on looking in each others eyes as the hot summer breeze made its way in through the window and embraced them. Kise pulled her up from the chair, he glanced down at the desk between them. He picked up the desk carefully, put it aside and then stood in front of Hisa who was now flustered again. Kise giggled and then pulled her into a hug. When he pulled away, he glanced down at Hisa mischievously. "Please take care of me from now on?"

Hisa blinked and then smiled shyly. "Why do you have to say it like a question?"

"Because I'm infected by Hisachi's virus." Kise slid his arm around her waist leaning in again and pressing his lips to Hisa's.

The gentle summer breeze wouldn't dare interrupt their sentiments that had yet to grow further and further, rather it flew with it the scent of a new love for new sentiments to bloom in the coming countless springs...

The End.

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