They stayed stuck together on the wrecked bed for what felt like hours, neither wanting to move first. Nash’s arms stayed wrapped tight around Aiko’s smaller body while she pressed her face into his chest like she was trying to memorize the way he smelled.

Their lips moved together all slow and wet, the kind of kissing that makes your stomach do weird flips. Every time they pulled back just a little, their mouths made this sucking noise before connecting again.

"Mm." Aiko sighed right against his mouth, her fingers drawing lazy circles on his sweaty chest. Nash ran his hand through her crazy red hair, like someone had stuck their fingers in an electric socket, but he kept smoothing it down anyway like that would help.

Their tongues brushed together, no rush at all, just enjoying the warm sloppy mess of it.

Getting up took forever. Like, actual forever. Aiko’s legs straight up betrayed her the second her feet touched the floor, she wobbled like a newborn deer and had to grab Nash’s arm so hard her nails left little marks. Nash just grinned like an idiot and held her steady.

Putting clothes back on took even longer because they kept stopping every five seconds to mess around. Nash would "fix" Aiko’s buttons while totally copping a feel, his rough fingers dragging over her nipples on purpose.

She’d shiver and poke his ribs in revenge, which always led to more kissing, quick dumb pecks that made them both laugh against each other’s mouths.

Aiko’s shirt ended up buttoned wrong twice because they couldn’t stop giggling like a couple of drunk teenagers.

"Your hair’s a disaster," Nash muttered, trying to comb through the tangled red mess with just his fingers. Aiko stood on her tiptoes and kissed his stubbly jaw one last time before they finally left the room.

Walking out was embarrassing in the best way. Their feet dragged a little, both of them smiling like they’d just pulled off the world’s dumbest prank.

The love hotel’s front desk lady looked like she’d rather be anywhere else, chewing gum with her mouth open, eyelids at half-mast like she’d seen this exact scene a million times before.

Nash tossed extra cash on the counter for the broken lamp and the... very stained sheets. The woman counted it slowly before giving them this dead-eyed stare.

"Next time," she drawled, shoving the money in the register with way more force than necessary, "try not to destroy the whole damn room."

Nash just kept grinning while Aiko hid her burning red face in his shoulder. But you could still see her smiling.

Outside, the underground city’s fake sunlight made everything look yellow and sickly. People rushed everywhere, all business and no fun. Aiko clung to Nash’s arm like she was glued there, bouncing on her toes like a kid who just got told they’re going to Disneyland.

Her hair swung side to side, bright red against all the dull grays of the city. She looked unfairly happy, like someone had turned her personal brightness settings way up.

And of course people noticed. Guys did that dumb head-turn thing where they pretend they’re not staring. Girls whispered behind their hands, eyes wide. An old guy actually pointed and murmured "Hey isn’t that Aiko from Baby-Boom?"

Aiko didn’t care at all. She just squeezed Nash’s arm tighter and kept bouncing. Of course she was Aiko TANAKA, the idol in the flesh. But this idol belonged now to this giant near her, that giant who had seen many sides of her and touched her in places that no one else would.

Nash noticed all the looks. He ducked his head to mutter in her ear.

"Aiko... you’re glowing like a lightbulb in this shithole. Tone it down before someone comes to us."

Aiko drummed her fingers against his arm, before poking him hard.

"Make me. Oh wait, you can’t! Because I’m spending the whole day with you whether you like it or not."

"You realize your bosses might think you’re switching sides, right?" Nash tried to sound serious but his mouth kept twitching like he wanted to smile. Then suddenly his eyes got all wide like he’d just remembered something important.

Aiko switching side? If her manager started suspecting that right now, that would be a disaster for his plan and drag all the attention on him. But...

Wasn’t the opposite kinda their plan? Seeing them together could make one think she was switching side, but it could also be interpreted as the opposite.

He scratched his chin, thinking hard. The only way to force them to pick one option, was to say it clearly.

"Actually... yeah. This could work. Stick with me today. Come to my training."

Aiko made this ridiculous happy face, then hid it quickly behind a pouty face, cheeks all puffed up.

"Ohhhh so now you want me around? How obvious can you be?" But her eyes were doing that shiny thing again that gave her away completely. "Fine. But only because you asked so nicely, daddy."

Nash rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yeah, yeah... But we also need to take a picture. Right now. And send it to your team."

Aiko didn’t even question it. A picture? More like a proof that she had actually did it.

She whipped out her phone, pressed close, and, at the very last second, rose up to plant a big sloppy kiss on his cheek right as the camera clicked.

Over at Baby-Boom’s training hangar, balls were bouncing everywhere, Breakball balls, that is. Voices echoed weirdly off the metal walls. A staff member kept checking his watch, foot tapping impatiently.

"Where the hell is Aiko? She’s never late," he grumbled, scratching his bald spot.

Then one of the sub came running over, waving her phone around like it was on fire.

"Guys! Look what she just sent!"

The picture popped up on screen, Aiko smooshing her face against Nash’s cheek, both of them grinning like lunatics. Underneath it: "On business."

Everyone froze for like five whole seconds. Then suddenly, everyone started whispering all at once, voices overlapping in this messy, confused way.

"Hold up... is that seriously Aiko?" one guy muttered, scratching his stubble.

Another girl leaned forward, squinting at the screen.

"Wait wait wait... who’s that dude with her? Isn’t that Blaze? Like, THE Blaze from Blacklist?"

This older guy with salt-and-pepper hair crossed his arms so hard his sleeves strained.

"This ain’t good," he grumbled. "If people see her making out with him in public like this, we’re going to lose our fan base. Why the hell would she—"

But then this sub with bright pink hair practically bounced in her feet.

"No no no, you guys don’t get it!" She waved her hands like she might explode from excitement. "Remember what Madam De La Bite said? About recruiting him? Aiko’s just doing her job! Look, she even texted ’On business’, she’s literally working right now!"

She pointed at the screen like it was the most obvious thing ever.

People exchanged glances. You could see the gears turning in their heads, some still skeptical, but others starting to relax.

"So... this is part of the plan?" someone asked slowly.

Another staffer shrugged.

"I mean... if it works. Getting Blaze on our side? That’s perfect... But still... The fans won’t like it."

A few even had small smiles, looking kinda proud even if they weren’t totally convinced yet.

Meanwhile, across the room, Rei, Kai, Hina, and Miko watched silently. Rei had her arms crossed, Kai was smirking like the cat who got the cream, Hina just watched quietly, head tilted and Miko pushed her glasses up with one finger.

Nobody said a word. But they all knew, the plan was working perfectly.

A little later that day, Nash and Aiko reached Ironhide and Blacklist’s training ground.

The heavy metal doors of Hangar 47 opened. Nash stepped inside first, Aiko half a step behind him, still clinging to his arm like she was afraid her shaky legs would give out again.

The moment they walked in, the whole hangar shifted.

On the far side of the court, the boys, Jinzo, Mac, Drex and the three NPCs were running solo drills, grunting, slamming balls into the hoop with extra force.

On the near side, the girls had claimed their own half-court. Alicia was perched on a stack of mats, legs swinging. Jaz leaned against the wall, towel around her neck, laughing at something. Nia stood in the middle, hands on her hips, mid-story.

The second Nash appeared, everything stopped.

Alicia’s face lit up like she’d won the lottery.

"Nash! Finally!"

Jaz straightened up instantly, towel slipping off her shoulder.

"Ah, there he is! You actually showed up today!"

Nia’s eyes lit up with that dangerous sparkle.

Nash grinned as the three of them moved toward him at the same time. He raised a hand in greeting.

"Missed me that much already?"

Alicia reached him first and punched his shoulder lightly.

"At least I missed that stupid tongue of yours on the court, big guy."

Jaz was right behind her, bumping her hip against his.

"Yeah, finally. Place felt empty without you bossing everyone around."

Nia slid in last, tilting her head with a smirk.

"Good timing too. We were getting bored waiting for our favorite coc— I mean, captain."

Then their eyes landed on Aiko, still glued to Nash’s side.

Alicia blinked, tilting her head.

"Oh? You too?" She looked Aiko up and down with open curiosity. "Um... Hinata?"

Jaz laughed and elbowed Alicia.

"Aiko, that’s Aiko, come on. Don’t act like you don’t remember her from the sleepover and the match."

Alicia grinned, not even sorry.

"Hey, I’m not the diehard fan like you, Jaz. But yeah... hi, Aiko."

Nia’s smirk turned curious. She stepped a little closer, eyes narrowing with interest.

"So... why is Baby-Boom’s star point guard... or should I say Nash guard, hanging off our Nash like this? Here to spy on us after that getting your ass handled?"

Aiko groaned softly, puffing her cheeks out.

"It wasn’t spying. And it was a two-person victory, not some crushing defeat."

Nia teased lightly.

"Still a little sore about it, huh? Cute."

Alicia leaned forward on her toes, grinning. "Okay but seriously, what brought you here? And why is Nash dragging you around like his personal plus-one?"

Nash jumped in before Aiko could answer, keeping his tone easy and confident. He pulled Aiko a bit closer with the arm around her waist and spoke clearly so everyone could hear.

"It’s nothing complicated. Aiko’s a friend now. She wanted to watch training, see how we do things in Blacklist. Figured it couldn’t hurt to bring her along. We’re all on the same underground scene, right? No big secrets here."

Nia raised an eyebrow, still smiling. She knew more than anyone that Nash was doing something in the background, from his instructions about Victoria. Still, she decided to play along.

"All your ’friends’ that come around here tend to walk funny the next day, Nash. Just saying."

Nash chuckled, shaking his head.

"Come on, Nia. Not every visit turns into something crazy. Aiko’s here to observe, that’s all. She’s part of the circle now, same as the rest of you."

It wasn’t a lie, she did walked funny, but not the next day.

Aiko stayed quiet, cheeks still flushed, but she didn’t pull away from his side. She just gave a small, awkward nod, trying to look composed.

Jaz tilted her head, studying the way Aiko clung to Nash.

"You two do look pretty comfortable together. Did something happen?"

Before Nash could reply, Nia leaned in closer to Aiko, and took a quick sniff near her neck.

Aiko froze, eyes wide.

"W-what the heck are you doing?!"

Then, Nia pulled back with a little smile.

"Mmm... I know this smell. That sweet, sticky smell of someone who just lost her virginity. Did our captain finally make you one of his girls for real?"

Aiko’s eyes went wide.

"W-what are you talking about?! That’s— You can’t just say stuff like that! I—I didn’t— We weren’t... Shut up! You pervert!"

The girls burst out laughing. Alicia clutched her stomach, giggling. Jaz wiped at her eyes, still smiling. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Oh come on, Aiko, you’re turning so red! It’s okay... we’re all friends here... But still... for real? Her first time and I missed it? Damn, Nash, you owe me the details."

Aiko looked ready to die on the spot. She buried her burning face against Nash’s chest, voice muffled and whiny.

"I hate every single one of you degenerates..."

Nash just smirked, sliding his hand down to give her ass a firm squeeze right there in front of them.

"Relax, this is gonna be your daily life once everything’s over. You’ll get used to it."

Aiko peeked up at him with a stubborn little pout.

"I... I will not. Idiot..."

The girls were still laughing, crowding around her like they’d just adopted a new toy.

And across the hangar, the boys had gone completely silent, watching the whole scene with dark, narrowed eyes.