Disclaimer: I don't own KnB. Just Ayane.

Prologue—I Think I Understand Now

He didn't know when he first noticed it. All he knew was that when the ball fell through the net for what felt like the hundredth time that day, he felt it vanish. And then he felt it return before the ball even hit the ground. It was strange, to be aware of something so intangible. Before long, it was all he could think about. But he didn't let it show. He just continued to play even as his mind raced.

Someone was watching him. He didn't know whom. He hadn't even dared to look towards them yet. But he could feel their gaze. It wasn't threatening or anything of the sort. It was powerful, though. It felt like it was seeing something far beyond just him on the court. It was unsettling and made the hairs on the back of his neck rise.

The ball hit the rim of the net with a clang, breaking him out of whatever trance he had been in. For a moment, he stared at it in disbelief. He had just missed the basket. A growl slipped out unconsciously as he whirled around, fully intending to give the cause of such a mistake a piece of his mind. He saw a single girl standing just outside the courts, her eyes locked on the ball. After a brief second her gaze slid to him, the unsettling feeling returning. Blue clashed with blue as they stared at each other in silence.

"You were smiling…" she said quietly. Her words made him jump slightly. A scowl appeared on his face and his glare intensified.

"What do you want?" he demanded. The girl started as well, blinking her eyes quickly. They widened in shock as they focused on him, as if she was seeing him for the first time. "Well? You must want something, since you were staring at me for so long."

"I-I was?" the girl squeaked, a blush rising on her pale cheeks. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I just…" She trailed off suddenly, biting her lip.

He continued to watch her. When it became obvious she wasn't going to say anything more, his eyes darted to the ground. The ball still sat there, forgotten during their staring contest. Without thinking he picked it up. The second he did, he could feel her staring again. He slowly turned his head towards her. That blue gaze, so different from his own, was locked on the orange ball he held in his hands. He glanced between the two for a moment before holding it out towards her.

"Do you want to play?" he asked.

"I…" the girl said uncertainly, hesitating. She looked at him again. "Do you like playing?"

"Huh? Of course," he replied immediately. She frowned slightly.

"Why?" she asked.

"Why?" he repeated, confused. He tried to think of a reason. Failing, he let out an exasperated sigh. "Who cares why? I just do. Now do you want to play or not?"

"…I don't know how," the girl finally mumbled, the blush returning to her face. Her gaze darted away from his and her fingers rose to fiddle with the end of one of her pigtails.

"Then I'll teach you," he said in irritation. "So?"

"Alright then," she said. She walked onto the court until she was right in front of him. He had to look down a bit to maintain eye contact with her now. "So how do you play?"

"No!" she cried out as the ball bounced off the rim uselessly.

"Ha! I win again!" he crowed. He smirked at her triumphantly and she crossed her arms and pouted.

"No fair…" she huffed.

He ignored the comment as picked up the ball yet again. It was only as he leaned down that the thought crossed his mind. How long had the two of them been playing together anyway? He straightened and glanced at the sky. It was already turning orange with the fading sunlight, proof of the amount of time they had spent together. He thought on that for a moment before shrugging. It wasn't too late yet. He could stay out a little longer. He tossed the ball towards her. The girl raised her hands automatically and caught the ball with surprising ease.

"So you really never played before?" he asked her, suddenly curious. Basketball was so central to his own life that he found it strange that there was someone that had never played before.

"No, never," the girl replied, shaking her head. She stared at the ball in her hands, a small smile playing her lips. "But my brother plays."

"Oh?" he said with raised eyebrows. "Is he any good?"

"No," the girl sighed. "But he works so hard. He's almost always practicing. He wants to join the basketball club in middle school. I didn't know why. But after today, playing with you…I think I understand now."

"Huh?" he managed, blinking. Whatever she was saying, it didn't make too much sense to him.

"That smile," the girl said, gifting him with a wide smile of her own. "You're always smiling while you play. If my brother feels as happy as you do while he plays, then I understand why he loves it so much." Her body sank as she lifted the ball in preparation to shoot. The next moment she had straightened and jumped into the air, the ball leaving her hands. The net swished as it fell through. The girl grinned again. "And I think I might too. So thank you."

"Sure," he mumbled, his cheeks feeling hot. He couldn't understand why he was blushing. He snatched the ball off the ground, refusing to look at her anymore. "It's getting late so I should be heading home. Bye!" He started to run, determined to leave the cause of this strange feeling far behind them.

"Oh, bye!" the girl shouted after him, the wind carrying her voice to him. "And thanks for playing with me! Maybe we can do it again someday!"

He didn't stop running until he reached his house, the girl's words repeating over and over in his head. He stood in front of his door, panting. Play with her again? Probably not. He didn't even know her name. And school started in two days, the first day of his first year in middle school. Between that and basketball, because of course he planned on joining the basketball club, he didn't have time to chase after a nameless blue-eyed girl. Ignoring the feeling of disappointment, he opened the door and walked in.

And so the blue-eyed girl was forgotten.

AN: I wasn't planning on putting this up so soon, but seeing the results of that little one shot I put up yesterday got me excited. Thanks everyone who read/reviewed/favorited! Speaking of that one shot, it was actually a failed experiment for this story. So even though Ayane is in both, that one shot and this story have nothing to do with one another. Sorry if that disappoints anyone. Anywho, thanks for reading! I'll have the next chapter up soon!