To make it quick, you decided that 5 members of each team would compete. Yours were: Maehara, Isogai, Nagisa, Yukiko and you. Kayano was out, because she had heard Isogai quarreling with Yukiko because he didn't want his girlfriend to get hurt during the game. But Yukiko insisted that she would be fine, and Kayano decided to leave in order for her friend to prove Isogai that she was able to handle such a bet.

The two opponents would go skiing from the place you were till the end of the mountain. The first one to arrive at the end, would win.

Isogai went first, and he lost. Yukiko second, and she won. They didn't know whether her opponent slowed down because she was a girl or not, but that didn't prevent her from proving Isogai her strength. Maehara won, Nagisa lost. In the end, it was all up to you.

If I lose now... we will have to obey those idiots...

As you were getting ready with Asano next to you, smiling to you once in a while, Kayano approached you and gave you her cellphone.

"Someone wants to talk to you."she said but you already knew who it was.

You hesitantly took the phone in your hand and put it on your ear.

"Hello?"

"Ya... do you really care for my health? Doing things like that... means the opposite, you know." Karma's voice said and you realised that...

I miss him.

Even though he is so close...

"What is it, Akabane? Will you tell me to sit down and not compete because he has totally planned something and because you are worried?"you asked, kind of annoyed.

You were surprised to hear his next sentence.

"I can't always always tell you what to do, you know... just look at me" he cheerfully said.

You gasped and slowly raised your head. You were now looking at him, sitting at the cafeteria, looking back at you. You couldn't clearly see his characteristics, but you knew he was smiling.

"I will cheer for you. Beat the crap out of him, I hate him. Take care."

You smiled back at him. He hung up, putting- your- phone on his table, never taking his eyes away.

You were suddenly stronger. Even though Asano was your opponent, you were confident.

"Are you ready?"he suddenly asked and you realised you were spacing out.

You got ready, and when the signal was given, both of you began skiing, not looking behind. You could feel Karma's eyes on you, until you got out of his sight.

Asano was really fast, but you managed to keep up.  For most of the time, you were skiing next to each other. You were concentrated, but couldn't ignore his talking.

"Finally alone. Lets stop and talk for a while."he said and smiled.

I'm gonna puke.

"We are competing against each other, I knew you wouldn't take it seriously..." you said and he sighed. You had a hard time listening to each other because of the cold wind hitting against your ears.

"Oh, I am pretty serious. Do you see that huge rock in our way?"he asked and you indeed noticed a huge black rock, noticeable even from afar."I guess you wouldn't mind... having another hurt person to take care of..."

Oh shit.

You wide-opened your eyes and almost fell, but managed to stand again.

"Don't tell me..."

"Oh yes, Y/N... stop, or else I will fall on the rock with lightning speed"

Normally, you wouldn't believe anyone who would say this. But in Asano's case... he was capable of doing anything, no matter how stupid or dangerous it was. If he said he would do it, he would do it.

You didn't answer, hoping he was joking. But you were closer and closer to the rock, and Asano was so willing.

"Not answering? Do you doubt me?"

The rock was so close... and right in front of him.

Why can't I just let you kill yourself?!

"Stop!" You screamed and right then he indeed stopped skiing, and you did the same, panting and sweating.

He had a proud smile on his face.

"See, it was not that hard to stop."he joked and you approached him enough to slap his face... again. This time, his cheek was really red.

"Are you nuts??! Do you plan on killing yourself or something?!"you yelled and he held his hurt cheek.

"I will if you don't listen to me. You can also slap me all you want, I will say what I want to say."

You were furious, but at the same time, you had to avoid him doing other crazy things to talk to you. You sighed in defeat and stepped behind, looking at him, putting your hands on your hips.

"Speak" you angrily murmured and he giggled.

He stopped and stared at you. You couldn't really get what was on his mind, but his voice sounded serious and caring.

"I know you probably hate me right now... it's been one and a half years already, and I... I hope I am not late coming here to say... I'm sorry"

It was your turn to giggle... in irony.

"You were always funny. Oh, and don't worry, it's not late at all, you should have said it after Highschool..."you said. "What is it? Are you interested in me again because my grades are... high enough to be at your level?"

Painful memories were back again, yet you couldn't afford to lose your cool. Not now. Not in front of him.

"I'm serious. And this... I wanna say something about it."he took a deep breath, "In the beginning, I really thought you were one of the best students of your school and stuff... and in the end, I was indeed disappointed when I found out the truth. But i should have wondered back then.. what if I had never found out about it? I want to tell you that... all this time we were not talking with each other, I carefully thought about it...and I realised that... the moments we had together... I hadn't once thought about grades, status, the way we think... not even once. I realised... there was no point in them in first place."

You were dumbfounded by his words.

"And could you please tell me... why did you suddenly remember that now? Why after so long of a time?"

He lowered his head. Was he... embarrassed?

"I saw your game at the gym class. It was the first time I observed you playing with your class after we broke up. I saw your character, how you had changed, how much... I had missed you. And then.. I saw Akabane saving you. And I realised... how much I wanted to be in his place. How much I wanted to have done something for you the whole time we were together, but I could only remember hurting you."

His words sounded sincere, yet you were telling yourself not to get moved... not to cry.

"It's okay, Asano. Thanks to you, I experienced many new things..."

I cried my eyes out...

"... very unfortunate things almost happened..."

I could have died by that car...

"I met people that brought changes in my life..."

Hiro-kun...

".. and I turned into an improved version of myself... all thanks to you."

"Y/N..." he seemed hurt hearing you say those things, "I am sorry... I wish I could turn back time... and make us the way we were, before Highschool... tell me, Y/N, can we do that?"

You gasped. Your voice was about to crack...

"Stop talking, Asano... stop it."

"I won't. I didn't know it then... but now I know we should be together. That's why I told you before.. you should be with people of your level. I am at your level. We are on the same level. I won't ever find someone more suitable than you. Forgive me. Give me a second chance..."

"Asano, please..."

"If you don't believe me... listen to this. Last week, we gave exams, right? Monday, the results will be announced. If you scored first in your class... that means we are meant for each other. It means I am right... it means that you will carefully think about me. And if you have good news... even a little good... you will come to find me. If you don't come for me... I will know you have rejected me in everything."

You didn't say anything, because words would just bring tears to your eyes, but he knew you had heard every single word that came out of his mouth. You couldn't look at him anymore. As you were afraid, you had become weak when being alone with him... crying, unable to say anything.

You went skiing again, leaving him behind.

In the end, your team won the bet. Asano and his friends wouldn't bother you till the end of the trip.

You wondered if you would talk with him ever again... if you would talk on Monday.