Seirin's next year in basketball tournaments promised to be something to behold.
They had all their well trained third year veterans and their second year prodigies. Besides, the new flesh also seemed promising. Most were boys seeking some sort of sports activity, others really loved the game, a few seeked the fame the Winter Cup brought.
Still, Seirin was young but seasoned, a team willing to reach heights, a coach more than invested in their victory.
That is why, right at the beginning of the school year, she instituted a rigorous training regime.
"You slacked all through vacations!" Riko shouted at her players, who ran laps after laps and did push ups after push ups.
"You gave us exercise homework…" Kagami murmured to Kuroko, sweat dripping from every pore. The ace had no response, so he turned to find his partner.
The shorter player seemed dead a few feet away. "Kuroko!" Many teammates exclaimed, rushing to assist the teen. He really had terrible stamina.
And so the exercises continued.
Riko also had planned something else for her players.
Another get away to a training center should set everyone straight.
...
Riko and her father went a day before the rest of the team to set everything up. The loops on the sand had been quite effective last year, and she had every intention of reaching the same goals.
So, they organized a training get away mixing sand activities and fartlek.
She took the chance to explore the mountains terrain where the running around would take place. It was good to have an idea of the better places to train the body into various positions, but mainly to make sure the boys kept to the safer areas.
It was a good thing she went ahead, since last year's rain season seemed to have turned many paths dangerous, far too unstable to walk through. If someone was going to die under her watch, she wanted it to be on the court, not in the middle of nowhere.
As careful as she was in her planning and walking, she still fell victim to the terrain's trap.
A loose rock, an inclined ravine and a narrow path resulted in a twisted ankle.
"Great, just great." She murmured, cradling her swelling member tenderly. It could have been worse, but it would hurt for a day or two.
She stood up and attempted a step. Riko almost fell. "No, not gonna work." She murmured, taking her cell phone to call for support.
No signal.
"Come on! Are you kidding me?!" She huffed. Now she had a problem.
She could try to hobble her way back, at the cost of a further injured ankle, or she could sit and wait, and probably be eaten by a creature or another.
She psyched herself to a long, painful walk back.
"Hei!" A masculine voice called down. Riko turned surprise eyes up the path she had slided down. "Are you okay?!"
It was a high school boy. He was fully clothed and many meters away, but Riko could already tell he was some sort of sportist. He had his black hair tied in a ponytail.
She was hesitant to accept help from a stranger in the middle of the forest, but she didn't seem to have a choice. Besides, he appeared to be innocuous enough, in running gear and apparently just as surprised at seeing Riko.
"Actually, I twisted my ankle!" She informed. "Do you have cell phone signal up there?" She asked, still not willing to have the boy approach.
The teen reached into his sweatpants' pocket and took his cell. "Yes!" He informed smiling. "It is pretty weak, but I think I can make a call or send a message. Do you want me to warn someone?"
Riko informed the boy her father's number, and requested he call the man. The teen did so, even putting the call on speakers, but all they got was her father's voice mail.
The boy shifted awkwardly for a few instants before leaving a message for the man, informing, in the least likely way to give the man a heart attack, that his daughter was hurt and the location.
"I will try to get to you." He informed. "Maybe we can hobble together to civilization." He joked with a smile.
Riko observed entranced as the teen slide from tree to tree on his way down, laying close to the inclined ground and using leaves and roots as support. He was extremely fit, flexible and confident.
Still, there seemed to be something off about the way he moved, and Riko couldn't figure out why.
"Hi!" He jumped in front of her. He was relatively tall, around 1.75m, and had endless black eyes. She noticed his hair tips dyed in blue. "I didn't introduce myself, I am Shido Ryuzaki, pleasure to meet you!" He bowed slightly.
"Aida Riko, a pleasure, Shido-kun," she returned the reverence. "Thank you very much for helping me, I didn't have signal down here." she indicated her useless cell.
He nodded understanding. "I can imagine." They stood in silence for a few seconds, gazing around. The wood was truly beautiful, when you took the time to appreciate it.
"Alright, let's get you to the city," Shido exclaimed with an encouraging smile. He lowered himself a bit, offering his shoulder. Riko looped an arm around his neck, and they started a slow descend.
"So…" Shido attempted to make conversation. "I am here to exercise," he indicated his sweatpants and running shoes. "What about you? Out for a pleasantly walk?" He inquired, carefully side stepping a root.
She huffed a laugh. "Something like that," she murmured.
They made good progress, even if their movements were drastically slowed. It was fine, though, Shido was being really supportive -ha- and was good company. They would make it just fine, in an hour or two, maybe.
The climate seemed to desire to screw their plans.
Heavy clouds closed the sky in minutes. Thunders rumbled in the distance. The wind picked up suddenly.
When the sun disappeared completely, Shido stopped with pursed lips.
"I think you realise this could get worse," he conversationally started, looking up to the sky and down the way they had to go.
"We can try to make our way on the rain," Riko murmured thoughtful, ever the strategist. "Or maybe find shelter until the worst is past".
The boy nodded along. "We could do either," he agreed, turning mischievous eyes to her. "Or we could arrive on the village before the rain starts".
And that is how she ended on Shido's back, as he dashed as fast as possible across the terrain.
His steps were sure and he had a firm, respectful grip on her legs. Riko would have been more embarrassed about her situation had there been any witnesses.
Besides, now that she didn't have to concentrate on not falling face first on the floor, she finally realised what was off about Shido.
His gait was strange.
He stepped awkwardly with his right leg. The bend at the knee was uncommon, and the bounce back somewhat exaggerated.
He had a prosthetic leg. She hadn't seen it earlier because of his long pants and high socks, but piggybacking allowed her to feel the way he distributed his weight from leg to leg and put together what was going on.
What was he doing on the woods? Was he strengthening his muscles because of an accident? Was he still adapting to the mechanical leg? Riko had to bite her lips to snufle her curiosity. It wasn't her business anyway…
Maybe she could ask him when they got back to civilization.
And they did, just as the first drops fell from the sky. Shido helped her down on a bench under the protective stand of a convenience store at the forest's border. She noticed, with a relieved sigh, that there was phone signal.
"I can't thank you enough, Shido-kun!" Riko exclaimed with a smile. The boy had been very helpful and sweet. Besides, the way he moved seemed to tell the history of an individual with rigorous training, and that she could definitely admire.
"It was no problem, Aida-san," he assured, sounding sincere. "Besides, you gave me a good work out!" He laughed, looking up the mountain through the heavy rain. "Don't forget to call your dad," he said as an afterthought.
The coach immediately took her phone, speed dialing her father. She went to voicemail again, leaving a much reassuring message than the last. He would eventually find her, worried sick and remorseful of not picking up, but they would get there.
As she hanged up, Shido excited the store with a bag. He had gone in as she made her call.
"I got some cold patches and drinks," he kneeled at her feet, applying the cooling bag after her nod.
"Thank you, Shido-kun," she repeated. "How much do I owe you?" The boy had done enough for her sorry ass, the least she could do was endorse him, pay him a drink.
He sat by her side nursing his own drink, caramel coffee. A sweet tooth then. "You don't owe much, really, " he dismissed. "But I have to admit: curiosity is kind of killing me here," he confessed with an entertained smile. "What were you actually doing?"
Riko smiled at him, seeing no problem in sharing now. People usually were surprised or even bothered somehow by her position as coach, so unusual it was. However, Shido didn't feel like that kind of person to her.
So she told him about basketball. About her position as coach and their training exercise in the woods. About her exploratory expedition so none of the players would go through what she just had.
She even spoke a little of her team and their achievements. She confessed how proud she was of them.
By the end of it, she realised she had been babbling for some time.
"Thank you truly for sharing, Aida-san." Shido earnestly said, pupiless eyes gazing steadily at her. Her phone ringed at that moment, it was her father.
When she hanged up - after dozen assurances of her well being- Shido was already gone.
o.O.o
Hyuuga was an otaku.
He had come to terms with that part of himself sometime ago.
Still, his visits to Akihabara were his business and his alone.
He was searching for the Special Samurai Robot Limited Edition, browsing shelves and counters with attentive eyes, when he located it with deadly accuracy.
Hyuuga dashed as fast as possibly across the narrow corridor and extended a hand to his prize.
Just to bump against someone's hand. They grabbed the box on different heights, the last box.
Hyuuga took a deep breath, more than ready to fight for his samurai. He had had too many lost figure actions to the last basketball training.
His competition was a black eyed boy with hair tips dyed red. And he seemed just as determined as Hyuuga.
"Excuse me-"
"Sorry-"
They closed their mouths, staring at each other. Maybe a face off would scare him away. The captain did have experience in terrifying kouhais into submission.
This guy, though, oh he was good. His bottomless eyes showed no wavering. He stared just as hard back.
The teen suddenly laughed, letting go of the box. "Alright," he considered with a low chuckle. "We can't always win."
Hyuuga almost jumped in victory, until the other boy showed him a coin. "Tail or heads?"
The captain scowled at him, but admitted it was a clean enough solution. He put the prize down, crossing his arms and raising his head imperiously. "Heads," he grumbled.
The teen made great show in turning the coin both sides, revealing them different. He launched it into the air with fateful revolutions.
Hyuuga kept his gaze locked into the coin, willing it to do his bidding. He needed that Samurai.
The coin fell to the floor, startling the captain.
The guy was gone. And so was the box.
"Misdirection?!" Hyuuga exclaimed with rage and surprise. "As soon as I put my hands on him…" And he ran in search of the punk. He would show him what happened to those that got between him and his merchandise.
All he got was a last glimpse of red tips dashing down the busy street. "Oi! Punk!" The captain pursued.
The mink was damn fast, but Hyuuga was a stelar player beat into form for years. He almost got him.
The punk crossed a street just as the pedestrians light went red, effectively cutting the chase short. He teen had the gall to turn back and wave across the street. "Sorry!" He shouted. "I really need this samurai," he explained.
"I need it too!" Hyuuga cursed, shaking his fist as the other laughed and disappeared in the crowd.
….
Hyuuga didn't expect to find the punk so soon.
After the failed pursue, he went browsing again. Lucky him, he found another figure in an almost forgotten corner of a moldy store, so he had put the event behind him.
After window shopping for some time, he went into a coffee shop to chill before going home.
He got himself a latte and searched for someplace to sit. It was a busy afternoon, since the weather had hold strong and many teens and kids were enjoying the weekend. There was one chair available on the corner, a guy with a beanie occupying the opposing seat. He seemed alone.
"Excuse me. Can I-" Hyuuga froze as the guy raised his head. It was the punk.
They stared wide eyed at each other for a few instants. The captain scowled deeply. "Well, if it isn't mister grab and dash," he crossed his arms, making sure to put in evidence his almost transparent bag with the figure inside.
The teen smiled sheepishly, turning his cup in his hands. The strong aroma dispersing through the air accused it of being hot chocolate.
"Sorry." He repeated. He indicated the chair in front of him with a polite nod. "Please, be seated," he invited.
Hyuuga's frown became even deeper as he regally sat down.
"I am not proud of what I have done," he paused with a small shrug, before smirking mischievously. "Actually, I am, a little bit," he confessed.
"Oi-" Hyuuga's lips twisted, getting ready to lay thick on the boy. He was in for a complete dressing down.
"But-" He punk continued. "I was helping a friend of mine get that figure. He had been looking for it everywhere and has been quite forlorn this past days," he explained with kind eyes. "I wanted to cheer him up," he said with another shrug, sipping his beverage. "I just sent him a picture of it. He immediately called me," he smiled, looking down. "He sounded happier already."
Well, now Hyuuga would look like an insensitive bastard if he laid too thick on the boy. He huffed exasperatedly, sipping his own drink.
"Hyuuga," he presented himself, offering a hand. The teen startled a bit, before recomposing himself. "Shido," they shook hands.
The captain squeezed Shido's hand threateningly, pulling the other a bit closer. "Just because you had a touching story, doesn't mean I will forget how you stole the Special Edition Robot Samurai from my bare hands," he smiled, a murderous aurea surrounding him.
Shido's smile turned awkward, but he laughed.
They talked a bit. Shido spoke of his friend, how he loved some animes and despised a few mangas. That led to a discussion on personal taste, and Hyuuga was appalled by how little the other teen knew about japanese cartoons.
Shido was a book worm, apparently, sharing the hobby with another friend. "Mako-chan loves a good romance as much as I," he said with twinkling eyes.
Hyuuga had the impression that this girl was maybe something more than a friend.
They parted on good terms, exchanging book and anime recommendations and phone numbers.
Only after going their separate ways did Hyuuga realise that Shido was the same name of the boy that had helped Riko a few weeks ago.
Probably a coincidence.
o.O.o
Midorima was not having a particularly good day.
It started with the day's lucky item: a lolita.
Now, a lolita wasn't an object nor an item, it was a fashion style. So to acquire a 'lolita' one would either dress in such manner (quite embarrassing) or one would have to obtain a person dressing in lolita fashion (although that had an illegal ring to it).
Facing said dilema, Midorima chose the least mortifying and mostly legal way.
"Onii-san," Ren, Midorima's younger sister, pulled on their clasped hands. "What are we doing?"
At the age of 7 and a half, she was an elementary school student, barely reaching Midorima's waist. She had his peculiar hair color and was wearing the black and orange puffed dress she had since last Halloween.
They made quite a pair.
"As I told you before," he explained as calmly as possible, "we are going to meet my teammates on the park."
"I remember that!" She huffed, going as far as stomping her feet as they stopped at a red light. "I mean, what are we doing there ?"
He sighed quietly, adjusting his glasses. It would be a long day.
"I am going to overview our gaming strategy with my team. Then we will watch a streetball competition," he said. "You are going to draw and solve your puzzles," he indicated the bag he was carrying. "And you have Tanuki-san to keep you company, nanodayo," he indicate the small yellow backpack she had, the plushie's head showing at the top.
Ren puffed her cheeks, looking away. "Sounds boring," she concluded.
Midorima was the last of the team to arrive. Between hearing Oha-Asa, coming to a decision and putting his plans into motion, he had become slightly late.
Takao was the first to locate him. Miyaji the second. Otsubo the third.
His partner burst out laughing hysterically.
"Midorima-kun," Miyaji started cautiously, "Who is that?" He smiled hesitantly down at Ren.
"This is my sister, Ren-chan," he pulled her from behind himself, where she was hiding. "Today's lucky item is a lolita," he explained at their uncomprehending gazes.
"Shut up, Takao!" He called out, almost an afterthought.
….
Ren was a well behaved child. She sat quietly at the picnic table with her crayons as they discussed plays. She hadn't even complained about dressing lolita style or accompanying her brother the whole day.
She had said she liked spending time with her nii-san and that the dress was meant to be worn (truth be told, it was part of a witch's costume, but the striped socks and pumpkin decorated hat only made her cuter).
Takao had immediately taken dozens of photos. "This is going on my Shin-chan wall," he had claimed. Ren had taken a liking to him since the first time he had visited their home, so she had promptly posed and allowed selfies.
As they sat together, she only interrupted now and then to show her art or ask for inspiration. Midorima's senpais had taken great pleasure in challenging her to draw passer byes. Takao enjoyed asking for different animals.
All in all, it was going much more smoothly than anticipated. The game's time arrived soon.
They packed up and went to the open court, where spectators and players already conglomerated. Ren was holding Midorima's and Takao's hands so she wouldn't get pushed around or separated from them. The crowd was large and it could be dangerous.
They found place on the stands. Ren sat between her brother and Takao. The game started.
The first quarter was fine. They were there more for entertainment than actual research, since street basketball had a style that clashed badly with Shutoku's conservative one. But it was still cool to watch.
As soon as the second quarter started, Ren pulled on Midorima's cuff. He bent closer to hear her.
"I need to go to the restroom," she informed almost inaudible under the crowd's noise.
He pursed his lips and nodded. There was nothing he could do to control bathroom breaks.
They excused themselves and went in search of a public bathroom. Luckily, there was one close enough to the court.
"I will wait here," he informed as they stopped in front of the women's room. A few weeks ago, when they were out together, he had asked, awkwardly, if they should go into the families bathroom together. He had gotten an angry and embarrassed negative response.
Ren quickly disappeared.
Midorima ignored the giggling women that had fascinatedly watched the interaction. Both mothers and teenagers were ogling him unashamed.
"What a sweet boy, taking care of his imoto!"
"Did you see her dress? She is so cute!"
"Do you think he has a girlfriend?"
Midorima adjusted his glasses, trying not to blush too much and failing.
"Excuse me," a girl meekly approached Midorima, a blush dusting her cheeks and eyes on her shoes. "A-are you M-midorima-san?" She stuttered, hugging a magazine to her chest.
"Yes," he carefully answered.
And the girl revealed herself a fan. She excitedly spoke of all the games she had watched, since his Teiko days. She commented on his outstanding abilities. She praised his form and techniques. She confessed her profound admiration and asked for an autograph.
Midorima was so flabbergasted, all he did was mechanically accept pen and magazine and slowly sign his name. He almost wrote the wrong ideogram.
She bowed deeply many times, before scurrying away. He was frozen in place, not even blood moving to his cheeks. Until insane laughter happened.
"Your face, Shin-chan!" Takao bent over, breathless. "It looks like she showed you a three headed person, oh gosh, you are killing me!" He continued howling.
Midorima adjusted his glasses again. "It's enough, Takao!" He crossed his arms and looked away. He froze again.
The taller ignored his laughing friend and gazed around.
Ren had been gone for some time. He was right in front of the door, she was green haired and wearing a black-orange dress, it wasn't like she could have just passed him, right?
He quickly approached a middle aged woman exiting the restroom. "Excuse me. Did you see a girl wearing an orange dress inside?" He immediately questioned.
The woman was startled, as people usually were, by his height and green hair. She recomposed herself quickly enough. "I saw no one like that, dear." She probably sensed his urgency, because she continued kindly. "Would like me call for someone inside?"
"Ren," he blurted without niceties. "Midorima Ren."
"Shin-chan?" Takao carefully asked, as the woman went back inside.
Midorima gave him no mind. He was probably overreacting and Ren was fine. She would come out with the kind woman any moment, irritated by her annoying onii-san and she would be mad at him until he apologized and got her that strawberry candy she lov-
"I am sorry, dear," the woman appeared, a worried frown on her brow. "All the stals are empty, she is not there."
The breath stuck on his chest.
"Shin-chan," Takao seriously called. "Wait here, I will get the others." He made an aborted step, before laying a firm hand on Midorima's shoulder. "She will be okay. She is smart, she probably just wandered, Ren-chan will find her way back." And he dashed away.
Midorima took a deep breath. He was less worried about Ren and more about other people, with intentions. Bad intentions.
His senpais soon arrived, just as worried as Takao. They soon divided themselves and started the search.
….
Midorima and Takao gave the park a full round, asking other people about Ren.
After each step, Midorima's heart seemed to clench more, cold dread slowly seeping into his bones. Takao had stopped trying to reassured him many turns ago.
The senpais would have called had they found her. So far, nothing.
"Let's circle back, she could be waiting by the court," Takao suggested.
Disheartened, they power walked back. To their surprise, it actually worked.
There she was, orange dress and Tanuki plushie, eyes a bit red from crying, but overall okay.
"Ren!" Midorima cried loudly. His sister startled at his shout, but she immediately dashed to him, jumping in his arms. "Nii-san!"
They hugged fiercely for a few instants. Relieve made his legs weak, so he kneeled. He didn't even care about how they looked.
"Where were you?!" Midorima asked rashly, his sister's head under his chin still.
"You are the one that disappeared, baka nii-san!" She exclaimed.
They stayed in silence some time more. A black eyed teen approached, his hair tips dyed purple.
"I told you, Ren-chan," he gently informed. "Your nii-san wouldn't abandon you."
Midorima let his sister go, standing up and pulling himself together. He adjusted his glasses as he studied the other. Takao took the chance to hug the girl himself.
"That's Ryu-nii!" She smiled from Takao's arms. "I went into the boy's room to get more paper towels, but when I came back you were gone!" She accused Midorima, grabbing his hand. "So I sat and waited, but you wouldn't show," her lower lip trembled a bit, the taller teen grew alarmed. "And some strange people kept looking at me and then-"
"I sat with Ren-chan," Ryu finished, throwing her a gentle look. "She seemed very lonely, so I couldn't resist keeping a lovely girl company," he winked playful at her, though he meaning hadn't been lost on Midorima. People with intentions, bad ones. That boy had saved her from an unfortunate confrontation.
"Thank you…"
"Shido Ryuzaki," he offered a hand. "It was my pleasure, really." They shook hands.
"Thanks man," Takao too intervened, his easy going attitude back. "This is Shin-chan, I am Takao," they bowed slightly to each other.
"I am Midorima," he presented himself dryly. Shido smirked with mysterious mirth. "I see," was all he answered.
Shido shifted his gaze to the open court, where the first game had ended a long time ago. It was then that Midorima noticed his prosthetic right leg, showing below the knee on the shorts he wore.
"I will be going now," Shido announced as he rummaged through his sakura flower patterned bag. He retrieve a packet of Strawberry Coalas, and handed it to Ren. "Here, Ren-chan. Keep away from trouble, yes?" And he was striding away. Midorima and Takao observed as he faded into the crowd. The taller had a curious look.
"I will call the senpais," Takao informed, taking his cell. Midorima suppose they might as well go home now.
"Wasn't Ryu-nii cool, onii-san?" Ren excitedly asked, opening the snack. Midorima cogitated telling her to put it away since it would spoil her lunch, but he didn't have the heart since that was her favorite candy.
"Yes," he seriously agred, "very cool, nanodayo."
o.O.o
Aomine enjoyed taking shots in the neighbor's court as the day's light faded.
It was both the best time because the light and temperature were perfect, and also because no one usually bothered him that time.
Sometimes, he arrived earlier to play with the kids that were still there. But that was his secret.
He dribbled and ran, taking pleasure in the feel of his legs and feet drumming into the ground strongly, of the ball secure in his grip. He stopped and jumped.
The ball fell into the hoop.
He straightened, taking a deep breath into the twilight's air. A serene calm setting in his chest. Basketball had become his form of meditation many years ago.
He swagged to retrieved the ball with unrushed firm steps.
"Excuse me," a voice called from behind. Aomine turned with the ball in hands.
A short teen with black eyes gazed at him, a pleasant smile on his lips. Aomine immediately noticed the mechanical leg, letting his eyes run over it unashamedly, before returning his stare to dark pools.
The Touou student knew promptly that he faced an opponent.
"May I join you?" The boy asked, only the slight tipping of his head as movement.
"Sure," Aomine agreed. He passed the ball with a firm throw. The teen recepted it with sure hands, a practiced motion.
They played one on one. The boy moved fluidly and quickly; he had flexible form, hardly standing still for too long; his eyes were constantly moving, so much, that Aomine almost doubted he was actually seeing anything.
The leg gave the teen an extra bounce back at each step, but that neither seemed to help nor imper him. It just was.
Aomine was still better than him, obviously. He was better than anyone, and he holt nothing back.
However, the black eyed teen wasn't an ordinary player. He probably played in leagues and competitions with other amputee, and he should be one of the best.
Damn, he would be one of the best among the Interhigh and Winter Cup, too.
He managed to score a few times, and that was saying something against Aomine. He almost blocked a few throws, too, his fingers passing just shy of the ball.
Some more training and he would block those.
They stood panting slightly, the sky black and street lamps lighting the city. The boy had a satisfied look on his face, lips twisted in contentment and body sagged in that pleasant tiredness that came from a good match.
"Thank you," he earnestly said. It sounded like he was grateful for more than just a shared ball.
Aomine's eyes were trained again on the prosthetic leg.
"No problem."
….
The teen treated Aomine to one of his favorite snacks and a soda.
They sat together on a bench outside the market, nursing their drinks and munching on their food. The silence was comfortable, the exercise having relaxed stressed muscles and the night soothing overheated bodies.
"I will be seeing you, Aomine-kun," the boy said as he stood up, bunching the chips' bag and throwing it into the trash before walking away with hands in his pockets.
Aomine realised he hadn't asked the teen's name. The ace shrugged. Apparently, they haven't seen the last of each other.
o.O.o
Kiyoshi hated physiotherapy. But he knew it was the only way to get him back on his feet to play basketball in his second year with the team.
He still hated it.
The good thing, though, was that he got to meet amazing people.
The elder next bed taught him shogi and chess, even though he would never win a match; the young girl down the hall drew him pretty pictures of basketball games to decorate his bedside, even though he actually didn't recognise most of the elements on the drawing; the nurse told him about her kids antics, he always laughed with their adventures with the cat.
Then, there was the boy with the mechanical leg.
Shido Ryuzaki had been frequenting the health center since before Kiyoshi arrived on his first high school year.
The black eyed teen loved basketball as much as Kiyoshi.
They watched games together, commenting on plays, strategies and best snacks for consumption.
Shido vehemently believed that Pocky were the best. Kiyoshi couldn't take him seriously after that.
Sometimes they talked about their friends. Kiyoshi spoke of Hyuuga, and his over the top effort. Of Riko- briefly mentioning a failed romance- and how she drove them to their bones. Of Mitobe and his perpetual silence and Izuki and his puns and Koganei and his cat eyes and-
Actually, Kiyoshi talked a lot about his friends. Shido spoke, briefly but deeply, of one friend.
"Mako-chan plays basketball, too," he said one day.
"Mako-chan likes that team, too," he shared.
"I've known Mako-chan for a long time," he commented.
"I love Mako-chan very much," he confessed, once.
….
The Center never out loud questioned him about the leg. Shido never asked him about the knee.
"It was worth it," the teen had said out of the blue.
"Hum?" Kioshi had raised his head from the puzzle they were putting together. Neither of them enjoyed more sophisticated games.
Shido patted his prosthetic, a brand new model, or so he told Kiyoshi. His hair tips had been bleached yellow that day.
"Losing this allowed me to realise a few things," he conversationally confessed. He had indicated the crutches Kiyoshi was using. "Was it worth it?"
The Seirin student hadn't had to think. He turned serious eyes to his companion, until black orbs had met his warm brown eyes.
"Yes." He smiled, a bit self conscious. "And I would do it again."
Shido hadn't responded.
It seemed he had known Kiyoshi meant every word. And that such proclamation would be put to test the following year.
….
Shido was the first person with who Kiyoshi had commemorated his first unassisted step. Considering it had happened with only him as witness, it made sense.
Shido had been adapting to the mechanical leg for almost a year. Whatever had happened to him, had gone down during middle school. Shido already walked normally, and when he wore long pants, only a trained look could see something off.
That day, however, an unfortunate accident had occurred.
The prosthetic leg had broken as they went down the stairs.
It was a routine exercise for them both, so it was an unexpected surprise when Shido slipped backwards after an unassuming click was heard.
He lost balance and couldn't find a firm grip on the rail. He tripped down the stairs, hitting shoulder first and rolling until he got to the patamar.
Kiyoshi hadn't thought. He just ran down the stairs to help his friend.
"Wow, man!" Shido had exclaimed as he sat up slowly, dazed but okay. "You came down alone! Congrats!"
"What?" Kiyoshi had confusedly asked, heart beating wildly from the scare. He looked up the stair, where the crutches had fallen, and understanding had hit him. "Oh."
They had hobbled together back to Shido's room, to assess the damage. The prosthetic would be fixed; it had broken due to unplanned stress that was being put on it. Shido hadn't been forthcoming with information about that at the time.
Kiyoshi hadn't had to use a crutch until the damage on his second year.
….
It was Kiyoshi's last day on the clinic. He would finish his treatment at home, coming every other week, just like Shido had been doing.
They exchanged cell phone numbers and Kiyoshi suggested they try to set their appointments for the same days, so they could meet up regularly.
Shido became awfully grave, lips twisted in almost pain. "Take a sit, Teppei," he said, already collapsing on a chair. "After I talk to you, you can decide if you still want to see me or not."
Kiyoshi sat and listened.
o.O.o
The first game of the season against Kirisaki Daichi was feared by all participating schools. The reputation preceded the team. It's game style more than notorious among Tokyo players.
The first preliminar game was Kirisaki Daichi against Meijo Academy.
"Pathetic," Hanamiya murmured. "This game will be quite boring, you don't have to play in it," he dismissed with a careless hand.
"I need to lose the stage fright."
The captain chuckled. "Suit yourself."
….
Many games took place on the same day and arena. That meant a great deal of the spectators were other basketball teams.
"We really watching their game?" Kagami murmured, lips pressed in a thin line. "We don't even play today."
"Respect your senpais!" Hyuuga reprehended immediately, though heatless. "The coach knows what she is doing, and so does your captain and vice-captain!" Kiyoshi smiled at the rest of the team present, but offered no explanation.
The second year students figured their senpais wanted the new members of the team to see first handed what some matches could turn into. So most fell silent.
They were quiet for sometime. Until another team sat behind them.
Shutoku and Seirin exchanged nods, hellos, jokes and fist bumps.
"Oh, your game is only tomorrow, right?" Izuki asked Shutoku's new captain, Miyaji, with a friendly nod. "Interested in this match, then?"
"Something like that," he agreed with a huff. "That one said something about signs and astrology and Mars alignment," he waved in Midorima's direction, who carried a jar with a Marimo.
The players of the match entered the court to start warm up.
"What?!"
"The hell?!"
"Wow, didn't see that coming."
In Kirisaki Daichi's colors, Shido was stretching, laughing with Seto. In his uniform shorts, the prosthetic leg was promptly cause of agitation on the stands.
"Guys," Koganei cautiously called his two teammates that shouted in surprise. "I know they rot, but it's not nice to talk about the guy like that," he nodded to the court. "It's pretty neat that he plays like that, right?"
"It is not his leg!" Riko exclaimed, rubbing her nose bridge. "I met that guy before. It's Shido Ryuzaki," she explained. "You know, from the training camp. He was so nice, how can he be in that team?"
"It is him?" Hyuuga asked disbelieving. "He is that punk that almost made me lose my-" He suddenly stopped, aware of his transfixed company.
"-my something very important and none of your business," he lamely completed. "But he seemed like an okay person."
"We also met him before," Takao said, attentive eyes trained on the players, a smirk pending on his lips. "Shido didn't seen like the kind of person to condemn that sort of style."
"What you know," Kagami shrugged. "People are not what they seen."
"That was awfully deep of you, Kagami-kun." Kuroko deadpanned, Nigou firm in his lap. The ace jumped, frightened. "How long have you been there?!"
"Come on people, it is starting," Kiyoshi warned, eyes serious and fixed on the court. They fell silent.
The players lined up and bowed. They distributed themselves on the court and the tallests stepped into the center ring.
The refreere threw the ball.
….
76 x 13, for Kirisaki Daichi.
The score result was a surprise for no one. The winner had been on of the best in Tokyo last year, afteral.
The strangeness came from the fact that not one player had been injured.
"Good game," Kiyoshi called.
Hanamiya slouched even lower on the bench, head thrown back and eyes closed. He gave no other signal of hearing him.
The Seirin student slowly sat on the opposite end of the bench. He patiently waited, looking around.
A few spectators passed them on the corridor, they were family members, probably. Some teens in uniform, too, walked past.
They were alone for some time.
"Where is Shido-kun?" Kiyoshi caved first, curiosity getting the best of him. The black haired teen had two bags by his side. One was the standard green and black of their school, the other was white with sakura flowers delicately sewed into the cloth.
"Wouldn't you like to know," the captain murmured, unhelpful.
The distant sound of voices reached them, ecchoing on the bare walls.
"-hardly the referee's fault, really," was the trail of conversation they heard.
"Still, sounds unfair, to me." Was the answer.
Shido and Meijo's captain came strolling down the corridor. They were in friendly conversation.
"I will be seeing you, Akira-kun," Shido nodded, as he stopped in front of Hanamiya.
"See you," he briefly glanced at the other two players, but wisely said nothing, continuing down the hall.
"Great game, Shido-kun!" Kiyoshi stood, offering a fist. The black eyed teen smiled and raised his own hand.
"You are making me sick," Hanamiya shoved himself up, both bags on his hands. He threw a twisted smile in the center's direction. "It would be a shame if Seirin-" Shido took a step closer to him suddenly, grabbing his shirt violently.
Kiyoshi was certain Shido was going to hit the captain. He was wrong.
Their lips met aggressively, effectively silencing The Bad Boy. Hanamiya was frozen, though he didn't seen surprised. Amused, maybe.
The black eyed teen stepped away, their mouths separating with a wet, satisfied smack.
"Let's go, Mako-chan," Shido invited, taking his own bag and lacing his fingers with Hanamiya's. "I will treat you lunch," he promised.
They marched away, hands clasped together. Just before making a turn, Shido threw a wink over his shoulder.
….
"So, what?!" Hyuuga asked, drilling Kiyoshi a withering glare. "Is he reforming that team?! Because I am still pretty pissed at him."
"I don't think it's about changing them." The brunet explained, looking at the older kouhais. The whole team was in conference just outside the sports center.
"Their playing style did change, though." Furihata mused, sounding hopeful.
"Not really," Riko interviewed. "They still rely strongly on steals, only now they use Shido as power forward." She thoughtfully crossed her arms. "Although the foul play wasn't there. But it can be a one time thing, luring other teams into lowering their guards."
They were silent for a few moments.
"Anyway," Hyuuga huffed. "It won't matter, whatever they are up to."
There were murmurs of agreement.
