Greetings, Minna-san! Presenting to you my new story, Red's Empress! I think the title is a pretty obvious giveaway about the plot...but I still hope you all will enjoy it! This is in Flame's POV. Disclaimers: Kuroko no Basket and all the characters do not belong to me, except for Flame. -Soranryu
Taking a stroll through the busy school grounds, I looked around absentmindedly. It's that time of the year again, when the school clubs set up stalls to recruit freshmen. Well, none of the clubs really interest me, so I'm in none of them despite being a second-year student. I mean, the schoolwork's bad enough, so I don't think I really want to have to commit to something else. This is Rakuzan Highschool after all, the prestigious school in Kyoto with a super strong basketball club.
It was tough getting in; I barely passed the entrance examinations. If that's so, then why did I even come here…? Oh well, it doesn't matter anymore, I guess. Just as I passed by the basketball club's stall, someone called out to me, "Flame-chan, come accompany us for a while!" I turned to see two of the basketball members, Hayama Kotaro and Mibuchi Reo, waving me over. These two are known as the "Uncrowned kings" in the basketball world, and they're my classmates and good friends as well.
"Sup, how's the recruiting?" I asked casually, accepting the cup of drink they handed me. "It's going well; we've got plenty of applications!" Kotaro replied happily, showing me the thick stack of applications. "Well, our basketball club is one of the best in Japan, of course many would want to join!" Reo added in proudly. Just then, someone came forward, "I would like to apply for the basketball club."
We turned to see a redheaded freshman, and we were shocked. "You're…Akashi Seijuro, captain of the Teiko Middle School's basketball team and the Generation of Miracles!" Reo exclaimed, and he quickly handed a form to him. The other basketball members were already gathering around him, in awe at seeing him in person. Seijuro…his name flitted through my mind as I stared at him in disbelief. Even though we broke off contact when I graduated from Teiko last year…I knew you would come here, for the basketball team…
Kotaro suddenly nudged me, breaking my train of thoughts, "Oh yeah, if I remembered correctly, you were also from Teiko right, Flame-chan? Do you guys know each other?" I glanced at the redhead, wanting to know what his answer is. "No, I do not know her," he replied coldly. I felt my heart broke into pieces, but I played along, "Well…I have heard of him, but that's all." "Aww, too bad then," Kotaro sighed in disappointment.
So you have totally pushed me away from your life, huh, Seijuro. Even though…I quickly stopped that thought, shaking my head to get rid of it. Looking at him again, our eyes met and I saw something flicker in those mismatched eyes of his, but he turned and left so quickly I thought it was my imagination. "Flame-chan, I know he's handsome, but please come back to earth," Reo's joke snapped me out of my daze and I shot him a glare.
"Well, I was asking if you want to join us for dinner once this is over," he asked, both hands in front of him in mock surrender. I nodded and started to leave, heading for the rooftop. Opening the door, I gave a sigh of relief at the peaceful atmosphere up here compared to the ground floor. Spotting the familiar figure leaning against the railing, I greeted him with a smile, "Sorry for the intrusion, Mayuzumi-senpai."
He looked up from his novel before returning to it. I paid no mind to his lack of response and lay down beside him, using my bag as a pillow. When I first came up to the roof, Mayuzumi was already here, reading his novel as always. I then learned that the roof was his favourite spot, and asked him if he would share it with me. He told me he didn't care, so I always come up here to do homework or nap when I have free periods.
I felt eyes on me and I looked up to him, "Something the matter, senpai?" He said nothing at first, but then spoke, "Why is it that you can notice me?" I blinked at his question, before smiling up at the sky, "Because you're like Tetsuya, with your lack of presence. I'm used to it, so it doesn't work on me." Mayuzumi is the only one who knows about my involvement with the Generation of Miracles because I told him about it when I first enrolled.
He didn't really bother to listen, but he remembered. I trust him to keep quiet about it because I know he wouldn't bother to tell, not like anyone would notice him in the first place. Ever since then, we shared a quiet companionship, enjoying each other's company when we happen to meet at the rooftop. Hearing my words, he focused back on his novel again. I set an alarm on my phone and prepared to take a nap before meeting Reo and the rest.
"A girl must be more self-conscious, you know," he spoke again, surprising me. I then chuckled at his words, "Nah, I don't really care. Besides, there's no one else up here to care anyway. Well then, goodnight." With that, I closed my eyes and relaxed my body, letting sleep take me.
Right...so how's the first chapter for all of you? Makes you wanna stay and read on, I hope! -Soranryu