The sound of pencils, highlighters and pens, scratching on paper and the flicking of textbook pages and note books filled the air.

I let out a sigh of exhaustion and stretched my limbs out, feeling my joints clicking.

I was taking notes, re-taking notes and revising, trying to cram all of the content I learnt in my head. The year was almost at it's end and the yearly exams were taking place.

The Interhighs are just around the corner....I need to pass all my exams to go to the tournament...

I looked towards the sleeping Nina, lying down across from me, sleeping on her textbooks, quietly snoring.

This girl...this is the 7th time she's fallen asleep...

I rolled the papers I was reading and smack her head as a semi-loud 'smack' resonated throughout the library.

"Ow!!" Nina shot up, rubbing her head from the interruption of her slumber.

"SSHHHHH!!!!!" The irritated librarian called out.

"Sorry!!!" Nina blurted.

"What was that for Nana-chan!!" she whisper yelled, rubbing her head.

"You should be preparing for the exams, not sleeping and putting it off until last minute" I advised.

"But I'm tired~" Nina childishly whined out.

"You've been sleeping for most of the time we were here and weren't you the one who asked if we could stay back after school to study..." I deadpanned.

Nina didn't comment and turned her head to the side, avoiding my eyes.

I shook my head in disappointment.

How is this girl in college prep classes...

"Yer know what...let's call it a day and go home" I sighed out.

Nina's eyes lit up and immediately started to pack her belongings away.

"Thank you Nana-chan!!! I won't forget this generosity you have shown!!!!"

"SSHHHH!!!!"

"Oops, sorry!!!!"

I could only sigh in response and pack my materials away.

There was a few minutes until lunch finished so I decided to get a drink from the vending machine.

I pressed the button, hearing the clanging sound of the drink colliding against the machine before dropping into the pit.

I grabbed the drink before opening it and taking a sip, turning around to see a familiar face.

I choked in surprise, coughing as the person in front of me hurriedly took out their tissues and handed them to me.

"Y-yer know...it's not nice...sneaking up on someone...like that, Kita" I scolded in between coughs.

I felt his hand patting my back as I recovered from my coughing fit.

"I'm sorry about that" Kita apologised as I waved him off.

"What were yer up to?" he asked curiously.

"I was studying with Nina but she kept on falling asleep so I didn't end up finishing" I explained, remembering how many times I had to wake her up.

"Do yer want to study with me instead then?" Kita offered, walking with me to our classroom.

"I would like that, thanks" I replied, the bell signalling the start of class.

"I'll see yer after practice, Miya" he said before walking to his seat.

I hummed and walked towards my seat beside Haruko, where she was looking at me with a smirk.

"I see you and Kita are getting close" she teased, leaning back in her chair as we wait for the teacher.

"We're just friends, Haruko..." I sighed out, taking my seat, bringing out my materials.

"Hmm yer sure about that? I see the way he looks at ya~Yer sure ya don't like him~" Haruko pressed.

I gave her a look, shutting her up just before the teacher walked in.

We're just friends...nothing will change that...right?...

I was so distracted during practice, I kept on messing up my serves which I worked so hard on and my usually perfect and quick receives were off too.

"Don't mind, Hana-chan!!" Nina encouraged, trying to brighten up my mood.

The coach called for a water break before walking to some members, talking to them about their plays.

"Oi are you ok? Yer messing up a lot" Haruko asked me, concerned.

"Thanks" I remarked, sarcastically, looking at her.

"I'm fine..." I finished, drinking some water.

"Are yer sure?" Haruko pressed.

"Yea, it's probably one of those off days for me" I insisted, waving it off.

"Whatever yer say" she shrugged, walking back to the court.

It wasn't exactly an off day for me, I just kept on thinking about what Haruko said before class started.

"I see the way he looks at ya"

What does that mean?...How does he look at me?...

I shook off my thoughts after the coach blew the whistle, signalling us to continue with practice.

"BYE NANA-CHAN~" Nina called out like usual.

"I'll see yer tomorrow, Hana" Haruko patted my shoulder before she left.

I zipped up my bag and walked outside as it wasn't my turn to lock up today.

I looked up at the sky, lost in my thoughts, before walking into a warm solid wall.

"O-Oh, I'm very sorry" I apologised, looking up at the person I ran into.

"I told you that you'll run into something if yer not careful" Kita reprimanded, flicking my forehead harshly.

"Ow!!" I cried out, rubbing my forehead.

I heard him sigh before he grabbed my hand and pulled me along with him as he walked.

"Eh?" I let out, confused and flustered.

"It's to make sure, you don't run into anything or anyone else, yer klutz" Kita explained in a teasing voice.

"H-hey, I'm usually not clumsy!" I complained, nudging his shoulder with my head.

"Mhm, whatever yer say"

"O-oi!!!"

When we arrived, we took off our shoes and walked inside.

"Tadaima, Obaa-san" Kita called out.

"Okaerinasai~" she replied from the kitchen.

"I'll just go and get more materials, wait for me in the living room" Kita instructed before walking to his room.

I walked in the direction of the living room, seeing his grandmother in the kitchen.

"Good afternoon, sorry for the intrusion, Obaa-san" I greeted, bowing in respect.

"Oh! Hana-chan!! it's nice to see you again" she chirped.

After a small conversation, I walked into the living room and took out my books and stationary, placing them on the table in front of me.

Kita returned with additional books in hands.

"Lets get started then" Kita suggested, putting down his books and stationary.

A couple of hours pass while Kita and I were still studying, an occasional call for help and banter taking place once in a while.

I looked up at the clock while stretching out my limbs as they clicked and popped.

It's 7:30pm now and its getting pretty late...

I thought, looking at Kita.

"I should get going now, it's getting late" I told him.

"I'll walk yer home" he declared, packing up.

I did the same before saying goodbye to his grandmother and putting on my shoes.

Kita's grandmother called him, leaving me at the front, waiting for him.

He soon came back, his eyes meeting mine before his cheeks turned pink.

Is he blushing?...No, that must be the lighting or something...

"L-let's go" Kita suggested, walking in the opposite direction to my house.

"Kita, my house is this way" I held a laugh behind my hand at his behaviour.

He stopped and walked in the correct direction.

"Y-yes, I knew that"

We walked beside each other as I noticed that his face was now red.

"Kita, are yer alright?" I asked, now concerned.

He stopped for a moment as he looked into my eyes.

"Yes, why?" he questioned.

"Yer really red" I commented, reaching up to his forehead, trying to feel his temperature.

Kita grabbed my hand before it could reach and smiled.

"I'm fine" he assured, walking with my hand still in his hand.

What's with him and holding my hand...not that I hate it or anything...

I thought, feeling my cheeks heat up a bit.

I saw Okaa-san's car in the driveway, the house was silent.

"I've never heard yer house this quiet before" Kita commented with a chuckle.

"Same here" I replied, laughing softly.

"Thanks for walking me home" I looked into his eyes.

"There no need to thank me, I'm used to it" he smiled, his eyes staring into mine, a warm and soft look in them.

We stood in silence for a while, admiring each other before slowly leaning closer together until our foreheads were touching.

We continued to move closer, our noses almost touching until a voice shouted out.

"OKAA-SAN, SAMU PUNCHED ME FOR NO REASON"

"THATS CAUSE YER KICKED ME FIRST, YER LIAR"

We abruptly separated with red cheeks, realising what we were doing.

"S-sorry" we both apologised.

"I-its not yer fault" we stuttered once again before laughing at ourselves.

"I'll see yer at school, Miya" Kita pat my head softly.

"See ya, Kita" I smiled, walking to the door and opening it, waving at him before walking inside.

As soon as I closed the door, I leaned my back on it, releasing a breath I didn't know I was holding, my cheeks coloured pink.

After I calmed down, I began to walk to my room before hearing a teasing voice call out.

"I didn't know you had a boyfriend~" Okaa-san teased, coming out from her hiding place near the front window.

"O-Okaa-san" I stuttered.

"Don't worry, I won't tell your brothers" she reassured, walking back to the kitchen.

"H-he's not my boyfriend" I denied, following her.

"Hm~Whatever you say~" she replied, smiling.

Kita watched as Hana waved before going inside and closing the door behind her.

He then remembered what his grandmother told him before he left.

Kita's face flushed red again at the thought of marrying and having children with Hana.

Is there any chance that she might like me too?

He thought longingly before walking back to his house with a smile on his face.