" glean \GLEEN\ , verb:
1. To learn, discover, or find out, usually little by little or slowly.
2. To gather (grain or the like) after the reapers or regular gatherers.
3. To gather slowly and laboriously, bit by bit.
[PROJECT A]
Teiko Days
I hate you, I hate you, I hate you
CHAPTER ONE: Good Fortune and Bad Fortune
"Bad fortune."
"Good fortune."
Akane turned to the person who spoke at the same time with her. That person met her stare with serious light green eyes, with no hint of surprise or curiosity. As if he was watching an illusion that just happened inside of his head, like she was never there in the first place.
She averted her gaze since she had no time for this in the first place. After celebrating New Year alone she still has to head home. That will do after she properly asked blessings from her ancestors.
She pushed the silver coin that quietly glinted as the moonlight hit it to the shop owner who reluctantly smiled after accepting it. The girl had enough of the lucky item or fortune trying things. She might as well give up right now.
She sighed and bowed low before making her way to the dead tree where she will tie her bad wooden shoes clicked noisily on the gravel as she ignored the couples passing her by. As a failing Middle Schooler and being someone who thrives really hard for something, she would dismiss the subject called, 'love'. For her, it was merely a distraction that might lead to something worse, if you even add it to her bad fortune this year.
She walked nearer to the tree and put her hand up, thinking that it was enough but she was too short to even reach it. With her eyes flashing in challenge, she raised her heels thinking that it would work this time, but it didn't. She just managed to pluck some leaves out of the branch.
She swallowed hard, did my bad luck start already? But I can't give it up, here!
She breathed hard and stared at the trunk, thinking of climbing it to reach the branch. She shook her head after, taking confidence on her height despite the evidences that she can't really reach it.
She breathed hard once again and reaches up. But it was still in vain, given that she only plucked more leaves out of the branch. The leaves made a crunching sound the same as the twigs that snapped after someone stepped on them.
She stepped back, glaring at the tree. "Geez!"
"Give me that," a hand was lent to her, her celadon irises meeting those light green ones once again. She groaned grumbling in her head about how tall that man is.
"Why should I give this to you? You've a good fortune so don't lump me in with the likes of yours."
He raised his glasses, "Just give it to me."
"WHY-SHOULD-I?!"
He grabbed the paper from her hand and silently tied it on the branch that she was desperately reaching for. She blushed in embarrassment, "You—I don't need your help for this!"
"It's nothing to me, you simply look pitiful. I plan on starting this good fortune year by helping—"
She cuts him off by stepping on his foot and dashing away. Since she ran away that fast, he had nothing to do about his foot than to grumble about it.
Well, sorry for being damn short! Akane complained in her head.
[~]
"You're late, Midorimacchi~!" Kise exclaimed urging the other members of the rainbow colored gang turned to the bespectacled newcomer who was in a bad mood.
"Shut up, Kise," Midorima replied, the pain in his foot expressed by the deep scowl on his brows.
"Forget Midorima and just ring the bell, Tetsu!" Aomine remarked while looking boredly at the pale boy who was holding the rope.
"Oi! Not just because I'm late—"
"I agree, we don't have time to listen to Shintaro's complaints. Ring the bell, Tetsuya," Akashi ordered.
Murasakibara was quietly eating mochi, not really caring about the situation at hand. Kuroko held the rope, giving the shooting guard a signaling look for the latter to position himself alongside the others.
Midorima sighed and just walked to them, positioning himself beside the yawning Aomine who wants to go back to the comforts of his bed.
"I'll ring the bell, then," Kuroko announced. Midorima closed his eyes to offer a prayer to his ancestors as the bell echoed on their ears. The others were doing the same, until the sound ended.
The group was soon stepping away from the altar when their offerings were finished.
"Akachin, can I get an apple candy?" Murasakibara asked when they were already near the stalls set up for the New Year festival.
"You can, Atsushi. But this will be the last time that you'll be eating for tonight. You might get a serious toothache if you eat too much," Akashi decided.
Murasajibara, who will never disobey Akashi's orders, gave him a pleased nod.
"We'll part ways here, I wish you all a Happy New Year," Akashi said indignantly to the silent members of the group.
"Happy New Year, Akashicchi,Murasakibaracchi~" Kise greeted back with his lively voice. The others alongside greeted their captain.
Akashi gave them a small smile before leaving the group with Murasakibara.
"And there they go, Kurokocchi, Aominecchi, where are you heading next?"
"Home," Aomine replied, a yawn escaping his lips.
"Eh? But you just arrived a while ago!" Kise quickly raised an objection to Aomine's response.
"I would like to head home too, Kise-kun. I'm already tired," Kuroko said blankly, his right hand rose slightly.
"Eh? You too, how about you, Midori—"
"Die," Midorima replied before unceremoniously leaving the group.
"Really, that Midorimacchi, well, let's all walk—" Kise gaped at the empty space in front of him, the shadow and light duo left him alone also.
He slaps his forehead in realization, the others simply wants to leave him alone.
"How rude!"
[~]
Akane yawned, it's pretty cold on this mornings. All she can do was to keep on rubbing her hands on her sleeves hoping that it would warm her more than the warmth her jacket can provide. She sighed, her breath turning visible as she exhaled.
"Hime-ya! Ohayo-ssu!" a lively voice greeted as she felt a push on her arm. She turned to the person who greeted her; it was Kayo Nanami, her best friend.
"Good morning, Nanami-chan," she greeted, flashing her friend a fake lively smile. Kayo squeezed her friend's shoulders. "I haven't seen you since, forever~!"
"We just had a three month vacation, Nanami-chan. That's not long."
Akane winced when Kayo's fingers pressed her shoulders harder. She felt the familiar pain caused by her bag which weighs her shoulders down. Kayo noticed her face contorting, that the former apologetically removed her hands form the girl's shoulders.
"You're studying hard, again? Oh come on, Hime-ya. Enjoy school life more!" Kayo lectured.
Akane rolls her eyes, "Say that once you get a failing grade. If I spend my time carelessly, I'll continue getting bad marks."
"But Hime-ya, even though you try so hard, if you're just forcing it then nothing will happen"
"Nanami-chan stop lumping me in with you, okay?"
"How rude, I was just being honest with you!"
"I'm being honest with you, also."
"Boo~!"
Akane sighed, unlike her Kayo was staying above average while she stays on the borderline close to failing. She wasn't happy about it, but Kayo has a point, she was certainly forcing herself also.
Her thoughts was disrupted when her best friend grabbed her hand, "Hime-ya, we're late already!"
"Eh?!" too much for spacing out, she thought as they ran until they finally reached the gate of Teiko Middle School. Lucky for them, it was still open that they manage to get in before the bell stopped ringing.
"See you at the roof top on lunch, Hime-ya~!" Kayo remarked, while waving at her friend and parting ways with her. Akane just nodded and raced to her room, pushing the sliding door open swiftly.
"Morning, everyone! Sorry, I'm late!"
"I'm sorry but you entered the wrong class, Himeyama-san," her teacher in PE class who was the current teacher of another room greeted her.
She looked around, the students inside were trying to stifle their laughter while looking at her as if she was an idiot or something.
"I'm sorry for barging in!" she bowed low and ran away embarrassed of what happened.
Still, because she was late she wasn't allowed to enter the first class. She was punished to stand on the hallway until the said class ends. She sighed. Her bad luck still sticks to her in the end. She held the strap of her bag tightly, knuckles turning white.
Why do I've to get a bad fortune on the first try? Stupid fortune! She grumbled in her thoughts, I'll never ever try that again!
She shook her fist in determination, "I'm going to rise up from the borderline soon!"
"Um, Himeyama-san," she turned, petrified, standing in front of her was Kuroko Tetsuya, the phantom player of Teiko's Basketball team.
"S-Since w-when?!" she stutters while looking around for means of escape. She embarrassed herself once again, that if anything should happen she wants to ground to open up and eat her.
"The teacher was asking you to come in already," Kuroko replied, not minding the surprise from the girl's eyes. He was looking at her impassively, to be precise.
"Uh, second class started already?" she asked, stroking her short cerise hair, to bring her composure back.
"Yes, Himeyama-san," Kuroko replied, opening the door completely for her.
"T-Thanks," she put her hands on her pockets and enters alongside him. She bowed low to the teacher of the next class, who only smiled in return.
She quickly walk to her seat and shrunk there, a sigh of relief escaping her lips.
You can do this, Akane! Focus!
[~]
Midorima was walking up the stairs leading to the rooftop. Akashi suddenly asked the Regulars to eat on the rooftop, and since it was the captain's orders, it's not a follower's duty to object.
The verdant boy checked the time on his wristwatch, 12:15 pm. He's running late again and with that in mind a consequence will be awaiting him.
He frustratingly sighed, wishing that he could just ran all the way up but it was impossible because of his right foot which is still in the post recovery mode.
He had nobody to blame but—
"Look at where you're going!" he yelled at the person who suddenly crashed into him, he was fortunate to be able to save his lunch box from getting squashed.
"Ah, sorry," the girl who bumped him bowed low politely. But by the time she raised her head, he already recognized her, the one and only perpetrator of his misfortune.
"You!" he pointed an accusing finger at her.
"Huh? Me?" she pointed at herself innocently. He stood up, pushing his glasses up.
"Come, I'll make you regret what you've done to my right foot," he remarked sternly. He emits some kind of superiority that might make anyone cringe specially someone who's shorter than him cringe.
"Great, where?" Akane asked, using sarcasm to cover her nervousness.
Midorima glared at her, annoyed. His revenge can wait, right now he have to reach the rooftop as in RIGHT NOW. He turned and swiftly maneuvered his way to the remaining steps after the wide stair on which the girl bumped him.
Akane exhaled, realizing that she was holding her breath due to the nervousness she felt earlier. Seeing that guy again, was a bad sign for her.
She swallowed hard.
What should I do? Nanami-chan's waiting for me… but if I continue here, I'll see him again!
She shook her head and continued her journey to the remaining steps-slowly.
[~]
"You're late once again, Shintaro," Akashi said indignantly. Kuroko and Aomine were bickering on his back, while Kise and Murasakibara was talking about desserts.
Midorima frozed, eyes deemed to the Captain of the so called, "Generation of Miracles."
"You know what these means, right?" Akashi asked, a smirk evident on his lips.
Midorima didn't answer, of course he knew. Akashi was feared for a reason, he always monopolizes everything and with commanding tone he can make anyone follow him.
"Don't worry, your punishment we'll only be light, I'll just let you manage all of the gym's preparations for three days," Akashi decided, giving the taller guy a slight smile. "But if you're late again, you know what will happen."
"Of course," he replied, "I never broke any rule once," he said indignantly.
"I'm glad you understand," Akashi remarked, giving the others a meaningful stare. One by one, the other members of the color gang started to exit.
"O-Oi, where are you going?" Midorima asked, wondering why everyone just nonchalantly passed by him without saying a word.
"You're not asking us to watch you eat, right, Shintaro?" Akashi muses, his gaze mocking the green haired youth.
"B-But, I just got here!"
"That's none of my concern but please do enjoy your lunch," the redhead Captain, also walked ahead, passing him by.
Midorima stared at the closing door in disbelief, before finally settling down on the bench with a sigh. At least, he would have some peace while eating.
He opened his lunch box and was about to eat when the door opened, making him raise his head. Light green irises settling on large celadon ones, the two spent the staring game in silence.
"Hime-ya, I've been waiting for you, you just missed a good sight of the GoM!" Kayo, her best friend didn't read the situation at all, greeted the cerise head who quickly snapped out from her reverie.
"Uh, Nanami-chan," Crap.
"Nanami, you know her?" Midorima asked, taking Kayo's attention.
"Uh, Midorima-kun," Kayo greeted with a swift bow before formally introducing her friend, "This is Himeyama Akane, my best friend. Hime-ya, this is Midorima Shintaro-kun"
Thank you so much, Nanami-chan. You just lead me to my grave, Akane whined inside.
"I never knew that my luck today will really be overwhelming," Midorima uttered to himself, he can have his revenge already.
This made Akane felt more tension than usual that her feet already pointed to the right. "Huh, actually I'm not hungry at all, bye," she turned and run away leaving the two speechless.
"H-Hey, why did you let her go?" Midorima complained, snapping out from his reverie.
"U-Uh, I'm sorry, Midorima-kun…" Kayo apologized, not knowing why he was even blaming her.
"What class is she in?" he asked, he really wants to exact his revenge already. Letting his opponent run away was out of his options.
"Class 2-C," Kayo replied, cocking an eyebrow curiously.
He abruptly shook his head before leaving the rooftop with his lunch. Unable to hear Kayo's warning that his subject would never go back to her classroom swiftly.
A/N: Hi, Rasielis here, to those who thought of paying attention to this despite of the word length(for the First Chapter)
I'm glad for the given attention. Thank you for stopping by and checking this out.
If you have enough time, please kindly leave a review since it really helps a lot to boost my morale (:
And if possible, please check my friend's story(Enma Marius) titled, "Algebraic Basketball"
HIGHLIGHTS from the 2ND CHAPTER:
"Come back here!"
"Stop following me, I'm too young to die!"
"Pitiful, you say?"
"Do you have to ruin the moment that fast?"