黒子のバスケ: 初心に戻って

Kuroko no Basket: Back to the beginning

Our heart speaks for our soul every moment while we are alive. Listen... as the whispering beat repeats: be...gin, be...gin, be...gin. It's really that simple. Just begin... again. ~ Royce Addington

There was only a month and a few weeks to train for the upcoming Winter Cup. Instead of training with the others under Riko's father, it was decided that she would be better off with Ryu as her instructor. She was already used to the drills he gave her; sprinting up and down the courts for cardiovascular endurance and then making her do at least six sets of ten for jump rope. After her lengthy conditioning she began shooting at the half line. Only two of the ten baskets made it in. Ryu looked down at her with concerned and disappointed eyes.

"That's only twenty percent of your shots; c'mon you have to try, I know you can make it at least forty percent if you put in some effort." He instructed, trying not to use a scolding tone. She wiped the dripping perspiration that rolled down her face with the sleeve of her shirt.

"I've been putting effort." She retorted unhappily as she panted. Distressed, Ryu heaved a sigh and palmed his forehead. She noticed his body language and glowered.

"Don't give me that, I really am trying." She argued.

"I'm not scolding you." He denied.

"It sure seems like it." she countered. Again he groaned and again she shot him a scorning glare.

"I don't know what to do anymore." He said under his breath. Frustrated, Kotone snatched up her bag.

"I'll see you later." She said, leaving in a huff.

###

Ryu returned to the Seirin gym to inform Riko about Kotone's progress. He didn't have much to tell her about, which troubled her greatly.

"I've reminded her a million times that she needs to condition her skills." She griped.

"I'm sorry Aida-san; Kotone can be a little too stubborn at times, I think it has to do with that losing game." He replied. Riko clenched her fists in anger and scowled.

"That may be true, but she's got some nerve not to heed my instructions, that bratty princess!" Riko snarled under her breath with a menacing look. Ryu flinched.

"W-wait Aida-san, just calm down; I'll get her back on track someway I promise." He assured. She palmed her forehead distressfully.

"Someway? Ryu I know how much you love to baby her but please be a little stricter." She advised. Ryu leaned back on the bench and took a big breath, his hands thrown behind his head.

"I don't know what to do anymore; she used to be so cooperative back in middle school, so easy and understandable; now I can't read her at all." He whined. Riko cupped her chin and pondered for a bit. She smiled when an idea came to mind.

"Maybe you should resurrect some of those old techniques you used." She suggested. Ryu shot a puzzled look at her.

"Huh?"

"If she's reminded of those fun times you had together, maybe she'll become motivated again."

###

The first time Kotone had seen people play basketball she was instantaneously mesmerized by it. She was a first year in Ryuko middle school when she saw the boys play street ball. She stood perfectly still as she observed keenly behind the wire fence. They made fast breaks, threw and passed the ball around constantly, jumped around and hustled past other players. It was such a static fast-paced match that Kotone's own heart started beating fast as if she was playing alongside them.

The energetic game came to a short halt when a boy with blue hair and thin framed glasses stepped on the court and started playing with the others. He practically swept the floor with them. Kotone was even more entranced; every move he made seemed spectacular. His jumps were high and his movements were so fast that her eyes had trouble following him around the court. He's so cool… she thought simply.

She later found out that the boy she was so rapt by was the captain of Ryuko's basketball team and that he and his teammates practiced there every Thursday and Friday. After school on those days, she'd head down to the court following them at a safe distance and watch them play, watching them so she could hopefully pick up some moves for herself. But she always paid more attention to their captain; she didn't know what made him so unique. She wasn't in love, she had told herself that. She didn't know him at all but she guessed that it was his radiance. There was something that made him stand out from the rest; the lively spark in his eyes that would light up whenever he played.