Chapter 2: Cause
Seika traced her bottom lip with a finger, and the action immediately summoned memories of a certain encounter. It haunted her, taunted her, the sensations of how his warm breath had caressed her lips… just the thought of it was enough to send heat rushing to her cheeks at top speed. Turning to face the table, she buried her pinkening face in her arms, no one will want to be seen blushing like an idiot by themselves, especially in a public place filled with familiar faces like the school library.
She was supposed to be hitting the books but concentration doesn't come easily to such a distracted mind. It has been 3 days since that elevator episode, and for 3 days the incident gnawed at the back of her mind. She just couldn't get herself focused, not in class, not during revision, heck, she couldn't even get through breakfast in peace. Just this morning, she had poured milk on her dog's biscuits when she mistook them for her cereal.
Her silent sighs were muffled by the sleeve of her woolen pull-over, Seika wasn't being herself. Ever since the incident, her usual austere attitude seems to have vanished without a trace. Seika glared at the tall pile of worksheets through clear glass lenses, contemplating on how she was to catch up with her studying schedule. The second hand on the clock went about its rounds as she racked her brain for ideas, the calm, rhythmic sound aided by dreary thoughts made her eyelids heavy. She couldn't resist the sweet, soothing relief that slumber claimed to offer and her eye slowly fluttered close as her lax body sank down to the table.
…
Kirisaki Daīchi basketball team's winter cup conquest had ended rather abruptly, it was a lost that even the genius captain himself did not foresee.
Since the tournament had already ended for the team, the third years stepped down and practice was tremendously reduced for the rest. Instead of enjoying the freedom, the second year captain was vexed by the extra free time.
Hanamiya paced around restlessly, itching for practice.
However, he wouldn't allow himself to approach the basketball courts.
The match against Seirin had occured just a week ago. Defeat was lingering freshly in each and every member's mind, and this included the team's coach cum captain. The lost had weighted particularly heavy for Hanamiya Makoto, in his case, it was more than just a taint left on his personal record, it threatened to waver the very fear and respect members had held for him, jeopardizing his authority and control over the team.
Hanamiya was going through a difficult period, and an accumulation of wrong moves at such a dire time will surely lead to his downfall. His members knew him well, he wasn't one to give long talks about winning next year or getting heated up over preparation for the next match. He knew what they needed, and it isn't some unrealistic projection, it was assurance. Any display of anxiety now will only be translated into incompetence in the mind of his players, and attempting practice outside club hours will seem more desperate than anything.
If he was to step into the courts now, he might very well be digging his own grave.
With the heavy thoughts weighting down on his mind, Hanamiya wandered aimlessly. Either out of pure chance or subconscious thoughts, his feet brought him to the slightly parted doors of the school library. Warm air seeped through the small gaps, feeling pleasantly inviting amidst the cold winter air and bitter thoughts on his mind. He accepted its invitation without a second thought and stepped into the warm embrace of the vast room. He considered making a beeline to the non-fiction section, but before he could proceed to his intended destination, familiar dark chocolate strands caught his attention.
The dark hair was draped over a thick cream sweater, which rose and fell with every one of her unhurried breath. She was sleeping, he noted, unguarded and vulnerable. Beneath the brown locks, a fair cheek laid dangerously exposed to a certain lurking predator. A pair of black framed spectacles sitting on the bridge of her nose was slowly slipping, a rare sight to him since the ex-manager had never worn glasses for club activities before.
A sudden spark of inspiration flashed across his mind.
Hanamiya had found something to frivol away his time on.
He skulked towards his unsuspecting prey, bending from the opposite side of the table and inched towards her face.
A long finger slid down the curve of her jaw, pausing at the angle of her mandible.
No reaction.
The finger continued tracing down the soft skin of her neck.
She stirred, but he pursued on, fingers trailing on her collarbone. There was a second of hesitation before he reached up for her black full framed glasses.
"Hana…miya…kun." Seika murmured softly as the frame was lifted through her dark strands. The angle in his throat bobbed as he swallowed down a gasp. Her eyes blinked open by a quarter but they were not focused on him, it was clear that she was still somewhere lost in dreamland.
Hanamiya folded the arms of the spectacles and clasped the black frame in his hand. He had gotten his hands on the trophy, now he just had to make sure not to wake the girl before he makes his escape. A long last glance was cast at the snoozing girl before he made his exit and strode towards his original destination. He paid no attention to the various volume lined on the bookshelves, instead, he headed for a wide gap between two thick book.
Has she seen him just now? No. She had whispered his name before those dark lashes fluttered open for a second before closing again. Considering the elevator episode, there was no way the girl wouldn't jump at the sight of him. To Hanamiya's surprise, the thought of this stirred in his mind and left a rather uncomfortable aftertaste.
Hanamiya was used to being feared, it sated his sadistic nature, there was no reason for him feel anything beside satisfaction towards her fear of him. Or is there?
He casually observed the brown-haired girl through the gap, an attempt to distract himself from the thought, however rather unexpectedly, he found that the position that had been his only minutes ago was already taken over by a new occupant.
It was a senior in his third year. A familiar face that Hanamiya couldn't really put a name to.
The senior gently laid down his black leather violin case by the side of the table and settled comfortably into the seat opposite Seika. Brushing his fingers through her hair, he pressed a soft kiss on her forehead.
Unlike Hanamiya, the senior had carried out the entire act perfectly, there was no hint of awkwardness or hesitation when he touched the girl. It was habitual routine for him, an indubitable right that Hanamiya did not possess.
A vague memory was triggered in Hanamiya. He had heard rumors that the ex-manager was supposedly dating a member of the school's string ensemble, a third year called Ando Makoto. Hanamiya had brushed it off as gossip, but the other Makoto's actions suggested otherwise.
The sudden revelation sent a gush of unrecognized emotions that froze Hanamiya's movements. The sickening sensation made his blood broil and gnashed at his chest rowdily. He didn't want to watch, but his eyes were strongly adhered to the sight. The clutch on Seika's glasses tightened threateningly, making the frail plastic frame tremble in fear.
"…Eh, Ma-kun?" Blissfully unaware of the voyeur, Seika's rubbed the sleep out of the corners of her eyes as she regarded the boy in front of her.
"Good morning." He greeted cheerfully as he tousled her dark brown locks, beaming at the sight of her half-asleep expression. "Sorry, did I wake you up?"
"Morning?" Seika's mind was evidently still half-stuck in dream land, she had to slap her own cheeks to wake the other half of her head up. "It's okay, I was behind schedule anyway."
'Ma-kun' stretched his hand towards Seika, stroking the very same lines of her jaw that Hanamiya had touched only minutes before.
'Ma-kun', the pet name Seika has given to her boyfriend Ando Makoto.
Although Ando and Hanamiya shared a given name, to Seika, Hanamiya was only 'Hanamiya-kun'.
Ma-kun...
The endearing nickname solely reserved for her boyfriend.
Judging by the dark aura that he had put on, anyone passing by would have imagined that Hanamiya had lost his composure. However, Hanamiya wasn't just your average high schooler, he was an ingenious tactician, and one made especially dangerous by the confidence in his skills. Despite the whirlpools of emotions that twisted in him, Hanamiya's expressions were calm like the surface of unruffled waters.
Maybe it was because he had finally found it.
Something of hers that was worth destroying.
It will serve as a good distraction to squander all that free time. Two birds down with one stone.
The basketball captain flipped out his mobile phone, despite a nearby sign warning against the action.
"Hey, Kurosawa. It's me." His disturbingly sanguine voice resonated in the corner of the library. "I need you to do something for me…"
Natto's Notes:
What the heck is with this? I don't know :c sorry, this chapter is so boring, WHO CARES IF SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND OR A DOG, but I think this was necessary for the transition from a one-shot into a multi-chap. Don't worry though, I've got the plot all set up for this fic, it's just that I can't attach all the muscles on the skeleton. (gross) the real fun begins in chap 4/5 c:
Thanks for the reviews c: Don't worry Bakamicchi, Hanamiya had his lunch before they got trapped (in chap 1 ;))
