One or the Other
Honestly, I should be working on my Hogwarts story but I couldn't help but write out a bit more of this story since it's been getting more favorites and follows. Who would have thought that this story would get people interested. Thank you for the follows, favorites and reviews. They really do drive my writing and if you would like to input any ideas or want to help, just PM me. Help is always welcomed.
Also, I apologize if anything I mention about gymnastic is wrong. I'm not a gymnast myself, I played a bit of basketball in middle school and Tennis in High School. So if see anything that impossible for a gymnast to do, please feel free to tell me.
Thanks for the reviews:
nicoleAne: Thanks for your kind words. The update for this story will be a little slow since my priority is my Hogwarts one. But fear not, if there's enough interest in this story, I'll work hard to update it.
Echolotalia: Thank you as well for your kind words. And I see that you noticed some other characters as well. I'll probably be adding more (possible from other sports anime. I dare you to guess which one I'm planning to add :D ). Do not worry, I'll try to update this story but like I said before, I'm putting priority on my Hogwarts one so it'll be slow updates for this one.
Talking: "What are you doing here?!"
Thoughts: Please! I don't know what to choose!
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroko no basket or Haikyuu, only my character Tohru Hatake.
Previously
"Just work up the damn courage already!" Tohru whispered harshly to herself before taking another deep breath to calm herself down and slowly reached for the door handles. Tohru turned the knob, opening the gym doors slowly but before she could even appreciate the sight of the basketball court and the players, she only had enough time to hear someone shout out, 'watch out!' before a basketball greeted her face sending her straight into darkness.
Third POV
"Do you think she's dead?" A voice echoed as Tohru began to regain conscious. Her eyes twitched as she tried to open them to see just who was talking.
"No you idiot!"
"I'm sorry I didn't catch your pass Kuroko!"
"It's fine. My old teammates had trouble catching them in the beginning as well."
"Wait, she's waking up!" A female voice butted in this time. "Give her some space damn it." Groaning, Tohru cracked open her eyes only to see several heads staring down at her.
"Gah!" She screamed as she shot straight up, only to crash into a semi-red head forehead. "Fuck!" She hissed as she held her forehead in pain as her other classmate hissed in pain as well.
What kind of 'give her space' was that?!
"Are you ok?" A light brunette girl asked as she rushed to the gymnast before turning onto the abnormally tall first year. "Kagami-kun, apologize!"
"I wasn't the one who missed Kuroko's pass and let it hit her!" He complained, letting go of his forehead to reveal a red spot where the two heads bumped into each other.
"You scared her!"
"How is that my fault!?" As the two continued to argue with each other, Tohru—after letting go of her head—looked around her too see several boys standing off to the side, looking at the two with nervous smiles. Most of them, Tohru hadn't seen before but as she gave each boy a glance over, she finally noticed a pair of familiar black eyes looking back straight at her with some surprise.
"Eh? Tohru-chan?" He asked catching the attention of another familiar boy with glasses. Looking at the direction of his friend, the taller—and probably older—boy looked at her with recognition as well.
"Oh you're that girl from this morning, the one who needed help finding the office."
"Um…yeah….hi." Tohru muttered, looking away just as the girl and Kagami finished arguing.
"Huh, you two know her Hyuga, Izuki?"
"She was at the morning assembly." Izuki answered smiling softly at the girl. "And it seems that she was moved by your guys speech, am I right?" Looking up, Tohru blushed heavily as the older man guessed somewhat correctly.
"Um…..kinda like that." She muttered, looking away from the older student before hands grabbed her own forcing her to look up. And to her surprise, the brunette girl giggled in extreme happiness.
"Does that mean you want to apply for the manager position?"
"Um…" Tohru struggled to say words as the girl began glowing much more brightly. "If you'll let me then—"
"GREAT!" She cried out as she quickly got out a sheet of paper and roughly handed to her. "Just fill out this paper and you'll be our official manager! I'm Riko, Aida and I'm the coach for this team. It'll be a pleasure working with you."
"Um the pleasure will be mine Riko-san." Tohru mumbled, still blushing. "I'm Hatake, Tohru; first year."
"She's just happy that she doesn't have to worry about coaching and managing the team isn't she." Izuki muttered to his teammate Hyuga who sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Yeah, that's probably the most likely reason."
"Do you have any experience in managing a team or basketball Hatake-chan?" Riko asked the gymnast as she began filling out the paper.
"Well….managing a team? No, not really, but I do have knowledge in basketball and I'm sure my dad can help me give me some pointers in coaching or training regimes." Tohru muttered, looking thoughtful.
"Was your father a basketball player?" Izuki asked earning a nod from Tohru.
"He played professionally for about two years before he and my mom got married and then he decided to coach Teiko's Middle school basketball team until ten years ago." Tohru asked the older male basketball student expecting to hear a normal, 'oh that's cool' or something among those lines. However, the silence made her look up and once she did, she couldn't help but flinch at the shocked stares coming from nearly everyone from the basketball team. "D-did I say something wrong?"
"Was your father Hatake, Kaneki?" A quite voiced asked, nearly surprising Tohru out of her seat. She knew someone was standing close by, but his really ghost like presence made him literally unnoticeable or at the very least forgettable.
"Y-yes!" Tohru squeaked out as turned towards the voice only to see the teal head boy from her class earlier, Kuroko if she remembered correctly.
Wow….he hardly does have a presence. If I didn't have my….ability….I probably would have screamed out of fright. Tohru thought as the boy in front of her gave her a neutral stare followed by gasps from the rest of the group…well at least the older students.
"Wait, THE Hatake, Kaneki basketball prodigy for Japan's national team and the leading star coach for Teiko's middle school basketball club?! The one who started the winning streak for them!?" Hyuga gasped out as he grabbed the young gymnast's shoulder and shook them with each word.
"Y-yes! At least that's what my dad's friends say." Tohru muttered, her eyes wide as Hyuga was pulled away by Rika.
"Hyuga! You're scaring her!" the coach of the basketball team scolded the glasses wearing teen.
"But coach! She's basically like royalty!" Another student with cat-like facial features cried out, earning rapid nods from several other students—Tohru could have sworn she saw them in her class floor—and a sigh from Izuki.
Figures, it seems even Dad is a major celebrity in the athlete word. Tohru thought to herself as the older students began talking to each other.
"So do you play basketball like your father?" Kuroko asked Tohru, surprising her again.
"Oh um…sometimes." Tohru muttered, "Mom made me take after her so I do gymnastics more." She grumbled the last part to herself.
"Are you somewhat good then?" Kagami's voice called out. Tohru couldn't help but smirk at his question, after all, having two national champion athletes as your parents would make you better at sports than others. But considering that she wasn't practicing basketball as hard as gymnastics…..she was probably above average. Her father still murders her on the court whenever they play one on one.
"I'm better than average that's for sure. Tou-san made sure of that." Tohru answered, noticing the small smirk on the tall first year.
"Care to show us then?" Kagami chuckled as he threw the basketball towards Tohru, who caught it with very little effort.
"Oh? Are you suggesting a one on one match? I don't think that'll be fair, you'll be crushed." Tohru taunted, feeling a lot bolder now that she was on familiar territory—basketball—and her timid attitude was beginning to disappear. Tohru couldn't help but feel even more pumped up as Kagami gave her an even cockier smirk than hers, it felt good to have a fired up opponent again.
"Really? Because I was going to say the exact same thing."
"Hold it!" Riko called out, slamming both first years on the heads, snapping them out of their "zone" and back to their normal selves. "You can't just challenge your manager like that! What's wrong with you Kagami-kun!"
"But if she's not even remotely good at basketball how can she help us?" Kagami groaned as he looked at his couch and seniors who looked thoughtful at the suggestion.
"Well, he has a point."
"But she doesn't even have the proper clothes to wear. She can't play in her uniform, her skirt would rise up!" Riko shouted before slamming her clipboard onto the heads of several other students as they began to blush. "And get your heads out of the gutter!"
"Um if you want, I can bring some proper workout clothes tomorrow and we can have a practice match." Tohru muttered, "And we can also evaluate the freshmen abilities and see what kind of work out will benefit them more and position they'll be placed in if they are up to the senior level since I'm assuming you already know how the seniors function, right?" Tohru had to steady herself as the coach plowed into her and hugged her tightly.
"I'm going to enjoy having you on the team." Riko smiled happily as she patted her kouhai's head.
"Coach…."
RING RING
Tohru's phone decided to make itself known giving the coach a reason to let go of her new manager.
"Sorry." Tohru chuckled as she clicked the answer button. "Hey Kyo-sensei….you're finally here? Ok I'll be at the front gates soon. Hold your horses old man."
"You have a coach?" Izuki muttered as Tohru quickly grabbed her things including her manager paper.
"Only for gymnastics. My mother would be coaching me personally, but she's in LA at the moment so I have Kyo-sensei for now. Oh can I return that tomorrow?"
"Oh course." Riko smiled, still on cloud nine at the prospect of having a manager, "We'll see you tomorrow Hatake-chan."
"Oi Hatake you better be ready tomorrow. Just because you're a girl doesn't mean I'll go easy on you." Kagami smirked as Tohru stood at the doorway. She couldn't help herself, it had been such a long time since someone made her feel fired up for a match so she decided to let the team know what they were getting for a manager.
"I'm looking forward to that Kagami-kun." She smirked, as the setting sun behind her set an ominous mood as she switched her vision, showing the team her brown pupil-less. "Don't disappoint me." She turned around just as some of the basketball players muttered among themselves about the strange change in the young freshman's eye.
"She's definitely someone you don't want to underestimate Kagami-kun…." Kuroko muttered to the tall freshman earning a raised eyebrow.
"What do you mean? Was it because she sounded serious or something."
"One of my old teammates told me of a friend who had similar eyes to her…" Kuroko answered, earning curious stares from the other players. After all, this was the generation of Miracles they were talking about, and nothing surrounding the players was normal.
"What's so special about pupil-less eyes?" Izuki asked, considering his own eyes were almost pure black. "Won't that make it harder for her to see then?"
"According to my old teammate, his friend never had trouble locating the ball or anyone on the court for that matter when their eyes turned like that. It was like they had eyes everywhere. He even said that if his friend had continued to play basketball, they could have end up having a nearly identical ability as our captain….except theirs would probably surpass his." At this, the team nearly choked on their spit as they tried to wrap the idea of their newest manager having the same powerful abilities as the Generation of Miracles.
"No way! What happened to the friend?!" The catlike player, Koganei, cried out as the light bluenette shrugged.
"Last I heard, they left off on bad terms and hadn't spoken to each other since the end of our first year at middle school since the friend left to America."
"That's a shame," Riko sighed, "It would have been nice if he came back and enrolled in Seirin. We could have used someone like him. But we'll work what we got."
"But still….to think that Tohru-chan has the potential to be such a great player…..it makes me wonder what kind of gymnast she is."Izuki muttered.
"Well, at least she'll be a fine addition to our team that's for sure." Riko smiled before blowing her whistle. "Ok just because our newest manager had to leave early, doesn't mean you guys get to slack off! Suicide lines now!"
"Coach!?"
"So you got the position for manager already? That was fast." Kyo muttered, as he listened to his student's first day. He honestly thought, there would be others wanting the position, but considering it was a new school, the team probably didn't even have a reputation yet, so no one would even want to take up the job.
"Yeah….I'm actually excited for the team." Tohru smiled as she looked at her manager form, already halfway filled. "They look like they have a bunch of potential…especially two of my classmates. "
"And you can tell that how? Did they look like professionals or something?" Kyo chuckled as he thought up a mental picture of mature looking students that did not look like they belong in high school.
"Well, one of them does…he's like six foot something and has the eyes of a tiger!" Tohru smiled as she remembered about the practice match she would most likely have with him and the team tomorrow. "But the other….you wouldn't even think twice about him and that makes him really scary."
"How is that scary?"
"You don't know where he'll pop up….and that gives him a great advantage." Tohru chuckled as she remembered taking in the teams stats just before she left. "But….I'm more worried about being a manager….I never did something like that before…maybe I should ask Shimizu-senpai….she probably knows a lot more about being a manager than I do."
"You mean from the volleyball team your dad is helping coach? Well don't you have a lot on your plate." The orange haired coach chuckled. He was somewhat proud of his student's ability to perform several sports beyond average. Although, if she overworked herself with the three sports; then he would make her cut a sport.
"Yeah…but it's a nice change….I get to decide what I want to do." She smiled as she finished filling out the form before putting it in her bag. "Thanks Kyo-sensei…for giving me this chance."
"Heh, just remember, I don't care what other sport you decide to do as long as you're in top notch shape for gymnastics and give me 120% for practice."
"Don't worry Kyo-sensei! I will." The young gymnast smiled brightly earning a small smile from the coach as well. It wasn't often he saw her smile like that and he hated making girls of any age sad.
"Well, I hope you like Miso soup since Tohru made a whole batch today."
"Just miso soup?"
"…and Leeks…."
"Ano…Hatake-san….would you like to eat lunch with us today?" Kuroko's soft voice the young gymnast that she nearly choked on her bottle of water.
"Damnit! I gotta start paying more attention!" She choked out as the blue haired boy gave her a confused stare."
"It's fine, a lot of people don't remember—"
"Um…never mind." Tohru sighed as she turned to face the young basketball player. "So you want me to join you guys?"
"Considering you will be our manager, I think it's a good idea to get to know each other. And besides….Kagami-kun has been dying to ask you about your time in America."
"NO I WASN'T! DAMN IT KUROKO!" Kagami shouted from across the room where the other first year's basketball players were sitting at. Smirking at the redhead's shout, Tohru picked up her bento—a treat from the older Tohru—and smiled at Kuroko.
"Sure. I don't mind. Besides, I want to know about you guys as well." The young gymnast hoped that she didn't look completely ecstatic. It was probably the first time in two years that she had lunch with kids her age. Back in America…well she didn't have any friends to eat or speak with. With very little English skills and constantly leaving school early for practice tended to make her a bit of an outsider. Thankfully, there wasn't anyone bullying her, but it was still hell. Taking a seat next to Kuroko, Tohru, eyed the potential first years smirking as Kagami began stuffing his mouth with the cafeteria food, looking much like a chipmunk.
"Well, it certainly seems like you have an appetite of an American. You sure not all of that is going to your muscles?"
"MHASBS!" Kagami tried to speak but with food in his mouth it was nearly impossible to understand him.
"Kidding! Just kidding!" Tohru laughed as she calmly took a bite of her own meal and watched as the other boys laughed as Kagami tried to swallow. "So what did you guys want to ask me?"
"Ano….where did you go to middle school in America?" A boy with brunette hair asked, earning several nods from the rest.
"It was a really small school. East Middle School. It was in the LA County but much farther away from Downtown LA, the one you guys usually think of." Tohru smiled as she remembered the slightly greener part of the city she lived in. Of course she visited the famous Downtown LA and while there were exciting things, it really didn't suit her tastes. "I played basketball during P.E. but other than that, I really didn't play. My mother wanted me to focus on Gymnastics more."
"Then…why become a basketball manager then?" Kagami asked, with a raised eyebrow.
"I love basketball more than Gymnastics and with my mother still back in LA, well….I can finally decide what I want to do." Tohru explained. "Is that all what you guys really wanted to ask me?"
"Then what about before you moved to America? Where did you go to school?"
"Well…I actually attended Teiko Middle school for a year because my dad coached there and when I finished my first year, I immediately flew to America."
"So you don't know about the Generation of Miracles then huh." A semi bald student muttered earning a curious look from the gymnast.
"Generation of Miracles? No, I don't think I heard of them. Did this happen after I left for America?" Tohru asked, earning a nod from the bluenette.
"Yes, the five students gained the title after they won their second championship in a row and now each of them have gone to a school and one—"
"School will be the top huh….it's like a battle to see who is the best out of all of them." Tohru sighed. "Sounds a lot like a gymnastics competition if anything."
"Huh, why's that?" Furihata asked earning curious glances from the other players.
"You know how there's four events in gymnastics right?" Looking at the boys in front of her, she was glad that they nodded their head; she didn't have to explain the basics of gymnastics to them thankfully.
"Yeah,"
"You work with other girls or guys to improve your skills all around, but of course there are some who specialize in certain events. Either way, you grow together with the girls or guys and it feels like a team of some sort, but then competition comes and then you're all competing for the top spot. It didn't matter if you shared laughs or helped each other, you're enemies. All that matters is getting the top spot and earning the title of best gymnast."
"That sounds pretty harsh." Furihata said, wincing a bit.
"It's a cruel system honestly and the judging doesn't help at all. You get docked points for the littlest and sometimes stupidest things. One time, a girl got docked points because a bit of her bra strap was showing despite landing a nearly perfect ten on the vault. She ended up with eight point fifty six points because of that."
"What?! No way!"
"Yes, gymnastics is a cruel sport. Honestly, if I could, I would drop it in an instant and join basketball instead." Tohru sighed before snapping her head up. "Wait a minute…is the application for joining clubs due by the end of lunch period?"
"Yeah, I think so why—" Tohru immediately stood up, pale as she quickly grabbed her form she filled out the night before.
"I need to turn this in to Riko-san! I'll be right back!" She cried as she stumbled through the small crowd of students at the door entrance, leaving the small group of players stunned as she left a cloud of smoke behind her.
"She's….really fast." Kagami muttered, before returning to his meal. "I wonder if she'll find Riko-san room in time…"
"I can't believe she gave me the wrong form….thankfully I managed to finish the proper form this time. Although, it was a bit mean for Riko-san for not telling me the deadline was actually after school." Tohru sighed as she exited the faculty room, bringing all the forms to the advisor just in time. Even though she did just sign up for being a manager, wasn't that cutting it a bit close to the deadline? She would had turned it all in during lunch but there wasn't enough time. Thankfully, her classroom was just a floor below the faculty room and she made a dash to the room once the bell rang.
"And what's with this school, Kaijo? Did she already make a schedule for a scrimmage game?" Tohru muttered as she looked at the paper the advisor of the basketball team gave to her to give to their coach. He originally was going to inform her of the approval after school, but he decided that the new manager should have the honors. "Some manager I am. I really need to ask Shimizu-senpai what a manager is supposed to do." The gymnast sighed, slinging her bag over her shoulder before she spotted the coach heading towards her direction. "Ah, Riko-san! I have the paper you were looking for from Takeda-sensei!" She smiled as she handed the paper to the brunette.
"Ah thank you very much Hatake-chan!" The coach smiled as she looked at the paper before giggling happily. "Yes! They approved for our scrimmage match!"
"Ano….Riko-san…just what kind of school is Kaijo if you don't mind me asking?" Tohru asked as she tried to keep up with her skipping coach. Was it normal for people to skip this merrily after getting approval for a scrimmage match?
"Oh that's right, you really don't know much about the schools around here." Riko muttered, stopping in mid skip to answer her newest manager. "Well, just so you know, Kaijo is a national level school when it comes to sports. They always make it to the Inter-High cup every year without fail. And they also have one of the Generation of Miracles with them."
"Oh I heard about them from Kuroko-kun and Kagami-kun. They're supposedly prodigies in basketball and each of them went to different schools." Tohru answered, earning a nod from her senpai.
"Yup! And because each of them went to different school, the battle during Inter High and Winter cup are going to be rather interesting this year."
"Huh…so that's why you wanted a scrimmage match against Kaijo…to see what you're up against right?"
"Right again! Oh Hatake-chan, can you set up the basketball court for practice? I have to meet up with the team and tell them the good news!" Riko smiled brightly causing Tohru to sweat drop.
"Telling them that they are going up against a nationally strong school for their first scrimmage match is probably not what they want to hear…" However, the coach didn't hear her as she hummed happily and returned to her skipping. "Well…I might as well and do my job as manager then." Tohru smiled as she turned around and began her journey to the school's gym.
She smiled brightly as she unlocked the gym doors—an extra set of keys were given to her by Takeda-sensei—and turned on the lights to the gym. The pristine gym floor and brand new basketball hoops certainly made it feel as if Seirin was a top regional basketball team instead of just a brand new school. After taking in the sight of the gym, she sighed happily as she placed her school bag down and headed straight for the supply closest. Thankfully, the layout was nearly identical to her cousin's school so it took her nearly half the time it would have taken her. Once the hoops were down and the floor wiped clean, she pulled out the rack of basketball and set it on the side of the basketball court where the benches were at.
"huh…this took a lot quicker than I expected." Tohru muttered as she finished taking out the small portable score board along with the scrimmage jerseys for the teams. She wondered if the extra extra small one would fit her. "I wonder if I should get dressed as well…I did promise Kagami-kun a practice match…"
"The changing rooms are on the other side of gym if you're wondering." A soft voice spoke sending chills down Tohru's spine.
"GAH! Damn it! I really need to pay more attention to my surrounding!" Tohru cried, placing a hand over her racing heart. Standing next to her was none other than her nearly invisible classmate, Kuroko and if her eyes weren't playing tricks on her, she could have sworn the teen was smirking at her but it was gone before she could think about it any further.
"Don't worry, it happens all the time."
Not to someone who practically knows where anyone is at all times. I must be getting out of touch…
"A-anyways…where's the rest of the team? Shouldn't they be with you?"
"They're probably on their way with Riko-san. But if you want to get ready for the scrimmage match you promised Kagami-kun yesterday, then I suggest that you go ahead and change in the fitting room." The bluenette answered earning a sigh from the gymnast.
"I guess..."
"Oi! Hatake! Are you going to practice with us or were your words from yesterday just big talk!" Kagami called out just as the rest of the team entered the gym with their gym bags and workout clothes. A tick mark appeared on the Gymnast's forehead as she glared at the taller read head.
"I am! I was just busy setting up the court! Or are you trying to find an excuse so you don't want to play against me?" Tohru taunted causing sparks to fly between them once more.
"Enough you two!" Riko sighed as she knocked their heads with a clipboard again. "Kagami-kun, you'll get your chance to play with her after you finish with your drills! And Hatake-chan, don't go picking fights with this big airhead."
"What!"
"I'll try." Tohru sighed, smirking as Kagami's face heated up in anger. "Ano…do you know where the changing room is?"
"Oh there should be one for the girls in the school building. Since most of the sports that are open are for men, they haven't given out the keys for the girls locker rooms yet so you'll have to change in the main building." Riko answered earning a sigh from Tohru.
Of course the girl's locker room wouldn't be open. The school's too new and there's hardly any female sports club opened. I think the only one that is, is the Tennis club….
"Arigato. I'll be right back then. Oh and Riko-san, I'm sorry but I won't be able to stay the full practice today. I have gymnastic practice and I can't miss any of them."
"That's alright Hatake-chan, although a schedule of your practices and tournaments would be helpful to see if they overlap any matches we'll have in the future."
"Of course, I'll get it to you as soon as possible." Tohru bowed as she grabbed her own gym bag and jogged out of the gym just as Riko blew her whistle.
"Despite wearing my gymnastic workout clothes, it doesn't feel like I'm actually practicing the dreaded sport." Tohru smirked to herself as she tied her hair back, leave a couple of strands loose to frame her face. "Although….I wonder if it's a bit too short…" The gymnast muttered as she took another look at her outfit. She wore her tight black yoga shorts with a very loose white half tank top with a black and white sports bra right underneath it.
"Well…hopefully I don't pass any teaches or students…that's going to be hard to explain." She sighed as she once again took a look at her hair that wasn't completely tied back for once. Technically she could let her hair loose and it still wouldn't hinder her vision, but she preferred to have it up so it wouldn't be sticking to her sweaty face. As she finished the finishing touch on her bun, she couldn't help but let her hand stray to the sole silver earring she wore on her right ear. She sighed heavily as she once again failed to remove the piercing and let her hand grip onto the sink tightly.
"Huh…it seems that no matter what, I can't really bring myself to take this off…" Tohru whispered to herself as her hair strand slowly began covering it, once again hiding it from plain view so that Tohru could at least pretend that she was strong enough to take it off.
As if….even though you said those words to him…and what he said to you….you still cling onto that tiny hope that maybe you can go back to the ways things were…
"But…like that's ever going to happen." Tohru sighed as she turned on the faucet and splashed water on her face. "For once, you have no idea where he is and second, what are the chances of you running into him? None…so get it out of your head Tohru. You won't ever get your friendship back…it's…it's time to move on…" Yet she made no move to even remove the piercing.
After drying her face, Tohru slung her bag back over her shoulder and slowly made her way back to the gym, still lost in her thoughts. Out of all the days to think of her ex friend, it had to be the one where she needed her focus the most. What terrible luck she had….
"Hey, hey did you see the model entering the basketball gym?!" A girl squealed to her friend, catching Tohru's attention. "It was him!"
"No way! It can't be! Why would he come to our school?"
"I don't know but we better hurry if we want to get an autograph from him!" The girl from earlier giggled as she pulled her friend along, catching the attention of other girls in the vicinity. Tohru stood still, processing the conversation her conversation before sighing heavily.
"It's not him…the chances of it being him are slim Tohru. Get a grip. Besides…if it was him why would he be here?" Tohru muttered to herself, her eyebrow twitching as she saw the large group of girls standing outside the gym with sad but hopeful looks. It seems that Riko must have closed the door to prevent the girls from coming in and seeing the….the model…and let the team practice in piece.
"Hey! You can't go in! If we can't—"
"I'm the manager for the basketball team." Tohru nearly growled as a crowd of girls gathered around her, giving her pathetic glares. She received worse from her mother and her cousin. "So if you'll excuse me, I have a team to mange." Pushing the girls aside, Tohru pulled the door open just to hear the voice she dreaded and hoped to hear after two whole years.
"When I heard we were going to play against Seirin, I remembered Kurokocchi was going to school here." Standing right before her, a blonde teenager with a grey suit on had his back turned towards her. "So I thought I should stop by and say hi."
No way. It can't be him. It can't be! I mean…what the hell am I supposed to say? What am I supposed to do? I'm not ready to face him just yet! Oh, god, if I just step back outside will they notice me at all?...Does he even….think I'm his friend still?
"We were the best of friends in middle school."
Huh? Tohru thought as she heard him go on about their friendship, not even mentioning her just once. Did he really…..does he not consider me a friend anymore? Then….he really meant those words….two years ago then…
"Oh Hatake-chan! I thought we would have to send out a search party for you…huh are you ok?" Riko asked as the coach of the basketball team finally noticed her. Time moved slowly for Tohru as the blonde student turned around to see just who came into the gym. Both of them gasped lightly as they caught each other's stare before Tohru chuckled lightly. Only she would have the worst luck on her first official day as manager.
"Hey….Ryouta-kun…"
"Tohrucchi…" He whispered as his eyes widen at the sight of her earning whispers from the Seirin basketball players. Tohru paid no attention to them as she sighed heavily, letting her bag drop to the floor before smiling sadly.
"So….you really meant those words back then huh….you don't consider me your friend anymore…"
"So….how was your first day as manager go?" Kyo asked as Tohru angrily threw her gymnastic and school bag in the back seat before climbing into the front, her eyes squinting in anger.
"Great….just fucking great."
"Oi! Language!" Kyo hissed back as he put the car into drive and exited the parking lot of Seirin High school. Nothing out of the usual except for the number of girls standing around the basketball gym…just what the heck happened? "I tolerate a lot of things but cussing is a huge no in my books. If I catch you cursing again, you're practice will be doubled and I'm sure your Basketball coach wouldn't want you to miss practice."
"Fine! Sorry! It's just….ugh….today is just not a good day at all…." Tohru sighed heavily as she covered her face with her hands. "Horrible, no good, worst day ever."
"What? You couldn't have fuuuugded up your job that badly on your first day right?" Kyo muttered, making sure not to make eye contact with his young student.
"No…as much as I would have preferred that over what really happened….ugh…he's suck a jackass!"
"Language!"
"That isn't even that offensive!" Tohru argued back, silencing herself as she saw her coach's glare. "Fine whatever, he was such a…bastard…"
"And who is this person you're speaking of? I don't know your basketball team that well you know. I barely even know your coach's name." Kyo sighed as he saw from the corner of his eyes his student tensing up. Just who did she meet in that gym today? It was probably the most expressive he'd seen his student.
"An old frie….acquaintance of mine…Kise Ryouta." She growled as she clenched her fist. "I hate him…I really do…"
"What happened, if you don't mind me asking." Kyo muttered, making note to himself never to mention the model and to ask his wife to not to mention him either since she had a small crush on him as well. Well, it more like an admiration since apparently he reminded her of his cousin, Yuki. How? He didn't even know the answer to that.
"He came to our gym because his old teammate is on our team and well….it started off ok until he spoke up…."
"Tohrucchi…" He whispered as his eyes widen at the sight of her earning whispers from the Seirin basketball players. Tohru paid no attention to them as she sighed heavily, letting her bag drop to the floor before smiling sadly.
"So….you really meant those words back then huh….you don't consider me your friend anymore…"
"Wait….friend?!" Nearly everyone on the team yelled as they looked back and forth at the two. "You're his friend?! How when!?" Riko screamed as she was held back the captain, waving her clip board in anger. If it had been any other situation, Tohru would have chuckled and nervously explain that it had slipped her mind and that she didn't know about his status. However, she didn't even know where she stood with Ryou—no Kise on the friendship scale.
"We went to the same elementary school and we just….clicked….until two years ago I guess…" Tohru answered, sneaking a glance at her blonde friend, stretching her neck just a bit to see his face. When did he get taller?
"Yeah…." He finally muttered after a couple seconds of silence, closing his eyes in frustration. "Until two ago….what brings you back to Japan? I thought you weren't coming back." He muttered, opening his eyes and narrowing them at her.
"Change of plans. I managed to convince my mother to let me finish my education in Japan instead of America. And I never said that I wasn't coming back. You just assumed it….as usual…" Tohru couldn't help but grumble. The blonde teen scoffed as he heard her remark and took a couple of steps towards her.
"And as usual, you just do nothing but complain, never trying to even—"
"Don't you dare put the blame on me again!" Tohru hissed out, her eyes flashing dangerously as she pointed a finger to his chest. "None of what happened two years ago was my fault! None of it and you know it!"
"Oh so it's my fault?" Kise growled as he leaned in; glaring back at the gymnast with just as much intensity. "Of course it's my fault, it's always my fault isn't it. It's never the daughter of national champion's fault. You're miss perfect aren't you."
"Look's who's talking Mr. Copycat Playboy who can't even choose a damn sport to play. Why don't you go back to being the stereotypical blonde model and merely think about your looks!" Tohru spat back causing sparks to fly between the ex friends.
"If you haven't noticed, I did choose a sport, idiot. I play basketball, now." Kise growled out before regretting the words that came out of his mouth. He saw the pain and betrayed look in her eyes before she lowered her head.
"So when I ask you to play basketball with me, you decline….but when someone else asks, you just accept right away then huh…was I not good enough for you or did you resent me that much that you decide to play the sport I loved most without even telling me?" Tohru whispered angrily as she clenched her fists, "So you can a satisfaction of knowing that you could play a sport that I can't?! Is that it?!"
The blonde haired boy said nothing as his ex-childhood friend glared at him with glossy eyes. What could he say? Anything that came out of his mouth seemed to stab Tohru in all the wrong ways….if anything….he couldn't click with her anymore and that made his sad…especially when they promised to be there for each other.
But it's not my fault. He thought as he remembered their first year in Teiko. She's the one who strayed away first. She was the one who didn't want to do anything with me.
"So what if I did. Why does it matter to you anyways? You're still going to be a gymnast, so I don't even understand why you're even here." He grumbled before narrowly missing a fist to his face. "Hey! What was that—hey!" Kise shouted once more as Tohru continued to throw punches before several of the basketball players from Seirin intervened.
"Calm down Tohru-chan!" Izuki rasped as the gymnast managed to elbow him in the stomach. His captain also suffered similar injuries along with getting his glasses knocked off. Who would have thought that a petite girl like her would have the strength to fight against basketball players twice her size?
"You idiot! You fucking idiot!" She cried, still struggling against the captain and vice-captain of the team. "You don't even know what I had to go through just to come back here in Japan! To see my father, my cousin, to see you!"
"Then you came for nothing!" Kise shouted back, surprising the gymnast and Seirin's basketball team. "When I said our friendship was over, I meant it! I don't want to go back being friends!"
Because it hurts. The blonde thought as he saw Tohru's eyes water even further.
"So get it through your skull! It's over!"
It hurts to see you drifting away when all I wanted you to be by my side….so why did it end up like this? Kise thought to himself as he finished his rant only to realize the words he had said sounded a lot more jagged than he had intended.
"I wanted to come back to Japan to fix whatever happened between us, but it seems like it was for a lost cause." Tohru muttered as she went limp in the arms of the Seirin team before reaching to her right ear. She seemed to struggle for a moment before throwing something silver and tiny towards Kise's direction.
"Keep it. Now I know you really don't want to go back to being friends so I don't have a need for that anymore." She growled as she held her ear ignoring that slight gasp that came from the model as he opened his palm. "Riko-san, it seems like I'll need the bathroom to clean up a bit. I'll be back and when I do, I have some suggestions for the training regimen for our team." She muttered as she pulled away from Hyuga and Izuki, ignoring everyone else's looks.
Once she was out of sight, she couldn't help but slide down to the floor and let out the sobs she was holding in. Finally after two years she finally got a definite answer about her friendship with Ryou—Kise and she didn't have to worry about that piercing anymore…so why did it hurt so much?
"Ryouta….you dumbass….you fucking dumbass…." She sobbed as she held her chest as if she could numb the stabbing pain her heart was currently under. "This hurts a lot more than those words two years ago….it hurts…."
"Words were said and finally I got the answer I was looking for after two years. Simple as that." Tohru grumbled as she crossed her arms across her chest. Kyo couldn't help but scoff. "Sadly, I couldn't participate in the scrimmage match I promised the team since someone didn't tell me they were coming earlier to pick me up." Giving her coach a glare, Kyo chuckled nervously before turning his head back to the road.
"Um yeah kinda slipped my mind….anyway kid….look, I'm not gonna force you to tell me what really happened or how it's affecting you. Just remember kid, you don't have to shoulder whatever troubles you have on your own. You have me, Tohru, your father, your cousin, and I'm pretty sure your team as well."
"Thanks…but it's nothing really. I'll be fine." Tohru chuckled humorlessly as she turned her head to stare out the window.
"Trust me kid, the sooner you find someone you can depend on, the easier your life will be." He muttered as he turned on the radio a bit louder so he wouldn't have to sit still through the silence. However, Tohru had heard him and sighed heavily to herself
But what if that person no longer wanted you? Who do you turn to then?
It only took them about twenty more minutes before they arrived to a reasonably sized building that Tohru had assumed would be their gym. It was nearly abandoned, save for the other two cars in the parking lot beside her coach's.
"How many other girls did you say you coached?" Tohru asked as she jumped out of the car, grabbing a hold of her gym bag.
"Four others." The orange haired coach muttered, glaring at a lone sock just outside the doorway to the gym. "Although sometimes I wonder if they're girls, they act a lot like boys when it comes to cleanliness." He growled as he picked up the sock and angrily jammed the key into the door.
"What should I expect?"
"A bunch of college girls that honestly don't know how to clean after themselves and can kick ass if they want to…except for Makoto…she can't even hurt a fly—"
"You've done it now bitch! I'm gonna hang you!"
"Bring it on Emo wannabe! I'll wipe the floor with you!"
When Tohru heard she was going to practice with college girls, she honestly thought they would be on the mature side—possibly a bit rude and stuck up—but nothing what she saw once she entered the gym. Rolling on the padded mats, two girls were wrestling each other, pulling on hair, clothing and scratching. On top was a girl with black hair, blue eyes and bangs with a blue streak highlight that covered her right eye completely, straddling and trying to strangle a girl with blonde wavy hair and light baby blue eyes. On the ground just a few feet away from her, a girl with violet hair laid face down with a large bump protruding from the back of her skull. Next to the unconscious girl, a petite girl with light brown hair tied into a ponytail with messy bangs that gave her a cute and innocent look, tried to wake up her teammate, not noticing their entrance at all.
"Hang in there Hanna!"
"Bitch! Is that all you got? You're all bark but no bite!"
"Ha! As if Emo slut! I'm just taking Makoto's feelings into consideration! I can't completely kill you, just bring you on the brink of death!
"They're older than me?" Tohru asked, looking at her coach for confirmation who had closed his eyes in anger at the scene before them.
"Sadly yes…now year these headphones for a bit. I'll tell you when to take them off alright." Kyo growled as he threw a set of beats headphones to the young gymnast, waiting for her to place them on. Once Tohru had securely placed the headphones over her ears, all the screaming became muffled along with everything else except for the sound of her beating heart. She watched as her coached turned around and began waving his arms wildly, slamming his fists to the two girls fighting before screaming at them. Well, she assumed he was screaming since his face was turning red. The screaming fest went on for about a minute before her coach finally turned towards her and motioned her to take off the headphones.
"—on't have to remind you how to behave with your teammate right?!" Kyo growled at the two fighting girls while the other two steadily made their way towards the new gymnast.
"We know…we know." The grumbled out just as the brunette and violet haired girl finally stood in front of her.
"Hello! You must be our new teammate, Tohru-chan! My name's Makoto and this here is Hanna!"
"I would say more, but my brain feels like it's gonna explode." The girl names Hanna moaned as she clutched her head, her glasses nearly falling off her face.
"Um…do you need—"
"Oi! Group huddle! I want proper introductions, none of this shiiiizeme." Kyo sighed as the other girls gave him a look. "Shut up or I'll triple your training."
"We said nothing sensei!" The girls smiled knowingly before they crowded around Tohru and made a small circle.
"I'll go first." Makoto smiled as she turned towards the high school. "As you already know, my name's Makoto, but my full name is Nara Makoto. I'm twenty five years old and besides doing gymnastics, I love to swim and hang out with Summer-chan. We've been best friends since childhood." Makoto smiled to the black haired girl who turned away and blushed heavily. "I'm also going to school to get a degree in nursing. Oh and my specialty is the beam."
"I guess I'll go next since I might pass out later." Hanna sighed as she turned towards Tohru. "I'm McCoy, Hanna. And yes, it's the same last name as the doctor in Star Trek. My parents were obsessed with the show and I'm a result of that. I'm twenty one, the second youngest here now….um Besides gymnastics, I love solving problems, and I plan on majoring in mathematics. I won't mind helping you if need help on homework or anything like that….oh and I specialize in the uneven bars." The black haired girl—Summer—sighing heavily as Kyo gave her a glare that meant she was next.
"My name is Yukimura, Summer and I'm twenty five years old as well, I'm just a couple days younger than Makoto. I'm not going to school, since I'm taking over my parents flower shop. I'm a goth girl who surprisingly likes to do gymnastics, get over it. Anyways, I like punk music or Linkin Park and….hanging out with Makoto. I swim from time to time but not like crazy. I do the vault." Summer then turned her head towards the blonde girl, elbowing her as she said nothing for a moment.
"Your turn Bitch."
"I know Goth Whore." The blonde haired girl growled out before turning to Tohru and smiling happily.
"My name is Sohma, Kisa and no I'm not related to Kyo sensei, we just happen to have the same last name that's all. I'm twenty three years old, I love doing gymnastics, and my dream is to make the national team one day. I love shopping and taking pictures. I'm also going to college, but I plan on majoring in Photography. And I specialize in Floor gymnastics." She then looked at the orange haired coach only to dodge his fist. "What was that for?"
"No cursing while Tohru's around. She's still in high school and I intent to make sure she's not corrupted by your crude mouths." He growled as he slammed his fist into Summer's head.
"OW!"
"Now, Tohru. You're turn." Kyo sighed as she eyed the girl youngest gymnast. She hadn't spoken much since they entered…in fact it looked like she was assessing them. She looked more guarded than usual when she spoke up.
"I'm Hatake Tohru. I'm fifteen years old, a first year at Seirin High School, and the manager for the basketball team. I don't have much hobbies besides gymnastics and while I can do all of the events, I'm better at…well rather I prefer the Floor."
"Ok….let's start with warm up! Makoto, make sure Tohru knows the basics. You'll be training her for a couple of days and once she gets the hang of our system, it'll be like usual."
"Hai, sensei!" Makoto smiled before grabbing Tohru's hand. "Come on Tohru-chan! We have to stretch out first!"
"O-okay…" Tohru stuttered, nearly tripping as she was dragged by the surprisingly strong girl.
What kind of gymnastic team is this?! Tohru thought as they all lined up on the mat and began the familiar stretching she was used to. And what's their view on me? I wonder….is it going to be like the other gyms or different?
"Oi! Watch your hair Goth girl."
"Really now? That's the best insult you can throw without cuss words, Yankee Princess?"
"YANKEE! I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S A YANKEE!"
Yeeup….this is definitely a strange team. Tohru sighed as she watched Summer and Kisa get their heads bashed together by her coach. A really strange team….
"Ano….Tohru-chan….is there something bothering you?" Makoto asked, startling the young gymnast out of her thoughts.
"Huh….well…nothing about this team if that's what you're asking." Tohru replied getting into split rather easily. Makoto followed suit but still gave Tohru a worried look.
"It's just….you seem very frustrated that's all…is school treating you alright? You did go to school in America for two years so it's understandable if you're not adjusting still."
"No, no, school's alright….it's just I ran into an old friend of mine and well…we finally settled the status of our friendship and now, it makes me mad thinking about him." She sighed as she poorly summarized her meeting with Ryu—Kise that afternoon. "But I'll get over it."
"Does that bastard play a sport?" Summer asked as she stretched out one of her legs, pulling it back so her foot touched her head. "If so, I suggest playing the same sport and kick his ass unless you suck at it profoundly, then keying his car will do."
"Um…"
"Summer! Violence doesn't solve everything!" Makoto cried, scolding her friend.
"But she does have a point surprisingly." Kisa said, slowly arching her back backwards until she was forming a half circle. "If he was supposedly your friend for several years and suddenly he just wants to ditch you just like that, show him what he's missing out on. Beat his ass in something that he's good at or both of you cherished. Show him that you don't need her anymore and that she was the one who made the mistake, not you."
But…is that….no….Kisa's right. I need to show him that I don't need him anymore. That he can do whatever he wants, but I will remind him that it was me who excelled in Basketball, not him. Just because he has the CopyCat skill doesn't mean he can beat me, and if he thinks gymnastic has dulled my skill then he has another thing coming.
"Ano….don't you mean him? You changed genders towards the end of your sentence." Hanna muttered, going smoothly into a split as well.
"What are you talking about? I said him the whole time." Kisa muttered, her eyes narrowing at the second youngest in the group earning sad looks from Makoto and Summer. "Anyways, if you do decide to beat your friend, send us a picture of his defeated face. It'll give us something to laugh and bond over."
"Uh…"
"Oi! Less talking more stretching!" The orange head gymnastic coach took the opportunity to push Tohru further down on her split earning a shout of surprise before she fell forward. "Oi! I thought you had balance!"
"Shut up!"
While most of the drills and techniques Tohru used in her new gymnastic gym was normal, she was honestly surprised to feel herself sorer than usual. After taking Gymnastics for several years, one eventually becomes used to the pain, but for some reason, here she was feeling sore all over and tired! Tired!
I haven't been this tired since my first practice in America. But he wasn't doing anything different…well…he did spend time with us individually….maybe that's why? Tohru thought as she remembered her practice. They were a smaller group, which allowed for more one on one with the coach and gymnast. Not to mention, he did help her correct her jumping stance when it came to her technique with the vault. A well deserved shower back at the Sohma residence helped her wake up though.
"And I still have to look over the order forms and training regimen for the basketball team. And study for tomorrow's test. Damn. It's going to be a long night." She sighed, exiting the shower before entering her room, grabbing the tray of food next to her room, courtesy of the elder Tohru once she explained she wouldn't have time to eat at the dinner table. Just as she placed the tray of food on her desk, her phone began ringing.
Who would call me at this hour? Not to mention, who has my number? Looking at her phone, Tohru's eyes widen a bit as she noticed the caller ID.
"This is rare." Tohru muttered into her cell phone, drying her hair before she flopped back onto her bed, barely wincing at her sore body. "For the King of frowns to call me. What brought this up? Not to mention, how did you get this number? I was planning on giving it to you this Saturday, Tobio-chan."
"Ha, ha. Hilarious. At least my name suits my gender." The raven haired volleyball player muttered while Tohru smiled.
"Bitch." Tohru laughed before sitting back up and grabbing the bowl of rice to take a bite out of it. "But seriously. What's up? Not that I mind your call, but I have a shit load of work to do."
"…."
"If you're not going to say anything, I'm going to hang up and go back to doing my work." The gymnast sighed before she heard her cousin mutter,
"I heard from Uncle that you're the basketball manager for your school…Seirin right?"
"Ah, that old man doesn't know how to keep secrets does he?" Tohru chuckled. "I was planning on tell you on Saturday and get some advice from Shimizu—"
"Ryouta plays for Kaijo High School and if you're planning to play for Inter-High, you'll be meeting him." Tohru closed her mouth, finally realizing what the call was for.
And everyone thinks he's insensitive. He's probably the kindest person I know.
"I know….I actually met up with him today." She finally spoke, smiling softly as she heard her cousin hiss lightly. "I honestly forgot about him until today and then I finally met him at practice…it looks like he was a classmate to one of my teammates…and he decided to visit."
"Are….how did you guys take it."
"I gave him back the piercing." She whispered, feeling the pierced right ear, void of its silver jewelry. "And….yeah…."
"Son of….are you ok?" Her cousin asked earning another smile from her.
I seriously have the best cousin in the world. She chuckled humorlessly as a lone tear escaped her eye.
"I….it hurts you know…having someone you trusted suddenly stabbing you in the back….but….I think I'll be fine….I just….god….the fact that he's playing basketball NOW, and that he no longer wants to mend our friendship….I wonder why I held onto hope that we could somehow go back to the way things were…"
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with thinking like that! And if he's going to be a jerk, then I say you're better off without him! Who needs friends that you can't count on."
"Sounds like someone has experience huh…" Tohru muttered sadly. "Heh….its seems there's no escape from our family's friendship curse huh."
"Don't tell me you believe in that superstitious stuff Grandma spews out." Kageyama groaned earning a giggle form the gymnast. "Dad has friends and so does Uncle."
"But they're married into our family so it doesn't count."
"Tohru!"
"Ok, ok. No more superstitious stuff." She laughed before sighing heavily. "Hey Tobio…can I have some advice?" She heard some shuffling—he was probably getting comfortable—before Tobio finally answered.
"Uh…if it's something about Volleyball then maybe."
"Jerk." Tohru scoffed as her cousin chuckled. "So can you give me advice?"
"I'll try. So what's on your mind?" Biting her lip, the gymnast finally spilled what had been bugging her since gymnastic practice.
"I….I feel really mad and cheated by Ryu—Kise. Not only did he take up a sport that I love when I was out of the country, but he didn't even want to try and repair the damage he…we caused two years ago. I want…I want to get back at him but I don't know exactly how…"
As a matter of fact I do, but I just want to hear your opinion first.
"Hmm….well, if it was me, I would just let go of it and try not to think about it."
"But that's because you're a guy." Tohru sighed. "Guys don't hold grudges as long as girls do."
"I know that!" He snapped, earning a giggle from the young gymnast as she could picture his angry face. "So I…really don't know what to do in that situation."
"Well….a girl from gymnastic practice suggested that I show Kise what he's missing out on, to show him that I'm not weak."
"And how do you plan on doing that? If I recall, he's part of the team called Generation of Miracles."
"Again with that name. Just how famous are they?" Tohru asked, taking another bite of her dinner.
"Famous enough than anyone who plays a sport seriously, knows who they are and not to mess with them. Especially after what happened last year." That caught Tohru's attention causing her to sit straighter.
"Last year? What happened?"
"Well…..it wasn't pretty. During their third year, something must have happened because the team soon just became a team to see who could score more individually. Game after game, the Generation of Miracles doubled or tripled the scores of their opponents. They….from what I heard, they played with their opponents and at the last game of the season, the score was 11-111."
"What?!" Tohru nearly screamed as she gripped her phone. How was Kise part of this team, just how much better was he now? Could she take him on if he was on such a monstrous team?
Of course you can. She told herself You taught him the basics, helped him realize his copycat abilities and his limits. You know just how far he can go….right?
"And it gets worse….they ridged it so it would end up like that."
"Wait….ridged it?" Tohru whispered, already picturing the devastated looks of the middle schoolers. It was a hundred point difference for god's sakes. "How—"
"Uncle said that at the last second, Teiko scored into the opponent's basket making it 11-111….even Uncle was mad at the team."
"Of course he would be mad." Tohru chuckled humorlessly. "He made Teiko the best basketball team and for them to tarnish his work like that….it must have been devastating for Dad…." The cousins stayed silent for a moment, before Tobio finally spoke up.
"So just how are you going to get back at Kise? I don't recommend playing basketball for two reasons."
"Two?"
"If he's part of the Generation of Miracles, he'll probably crush you especially since you haven't been able to play basketball for a while. And secondly….if you're playing basketball and Gymnastic….won't that hurt your eyes even more?"
"Oh…I forgot about that." Tohru muttered to herself unconsciously placing a hand over her left eye. "But…."
"No buts." Tobio hissed, shocking the gymnast for once. "When you passed out that summer, I hadn't been so terrified in my life. If the doctor says no double sports, then listen."
"But I love Basketball!" She shouted, silencing her cousin. "I didn't want to do Gymnastics, I was forced to! I hate competing for the top spot just so mother can brag, I hate how Kise finally found something that he loves when I wasn't there. I hate how much control mother has over my life. I hate how this may be the only year I have freedom to do anything I want and all I can do is fucking manage the sport I loved! How is this fair?!" She cried as she gripped her phone once more. "It's not fucking fair….I want….I want to play basketball….I really do." She sobbed quietly to the phone, cursing herself mentally as she had lost her composure. "It's….all unfair….it really is…"
"Tohru….I…I just don't want you to get hurt that's all." The gymnast heard Tobio whisper quietly.
"I know…."She whispered back, "I know…..I get it….You don't have to worry about me playing basketball."
"Thanks….really."
"I….I have to get back to my homework and figure out a training regimen for the basketball team…I'll see you Saturday…"
"Yeah….um….see you Saturday." A second later, Tohru's phone went silent as the call ended. She shakily sighed to herself before wiping away the tears from her eyes. She gave a guilty look at her phone as she whispered to herself.
"Sorry Tobio….but….I really want to play basketball….I really do."
But are you really playing basketball for yourself? Or is it to get revenge on Kise?
"Maybe….both…." She whispered as she took a look at the training schedule Riko left her before picking up her pencil and scribbling away the drills and runs she remembered her father putting the Teiko team under, years ago.
Finite! So what do you guys think? Is it good bad? Need more development? Reviews and criticisms are welcomed and if you want to help me Beta this story—or any story I've written so far—don't hesitate to message me. Throwing around idea really does help me out a lot.
-UntilTheMorningComes