II. Teikou Basketball

"Oh? Sho-chan! So how was your first and second day of school?"

"It's… uh… um…"

"I bet it's wonderful! Teikou is an elite school after all and they have great sport facilities for you!"

"Mom? No… it's…"

"Have you found the club you want to join?"

"I- uh I'm joining basketball club, but…"

"Eh? Basketball? That's quick! I thought you will only choose after the first few weeks! Since you don't really have a particular hobby… Bye then! Wish you luck for your basketball club!"

"Mom!"

BEEP BEEP BEEP…

Too late though, the person on the other side of the phone had cut her connection, leaving Shouyou to sigh. He returned the phone to its place and continued his breakfast, though the breakfast would have tasted better if his school uniform was not so… uncomfortable.

He loosened the black tie and unbuttoned the top button. The tie is annoying, but at least he is now able to breathe normally. His sister has gotten to school earlier with his mom, so there was no need for him to walk her to the elementary. He locked the door and set out to his school.

And he promptly started running as if a devil chased him.

There's going to be a basketball practice with the captain, and no way in hell is he going to be late! That would be like forfeiting his life, especially with a captain like that!

Though, he was stumped when he entered the first gym. There was no one other than the captain. He slumped down in exhaustion, thinking that the others would probably be punished since they were late, but instead…

Akashi stood up from the bench he was sitting and threw a basketball at him.

Hinata squeaked.

"You are late. I do not appreciate tardiness. We will now begin your personal training, which will be doubled due to your tardiness."

"B-but the others!"

"You are the only one here. I'll personally oversee your training."

"Eh? But-"

"No buts. 50 laps around the court, dribbling the ball, and I don't want you to jog. Sprint."

"Eh? 50!"

"Now!"

"H-hai!"

Hinata did not bother with his uncomfortable school uniform. He didn't care if he was still exhausted after running all the way from his new home to school. He just runs.

Run as if the death god himself was swinging a scythe behind him, even when the basketball becomes deadweight to him.

"Each time you failed at dribbling the ball, another lap will be added."

Say what!

Hinata promptly wondered if this is actually a military camp instead of basketball practice.

.o0o.o0o.

"Oi, oi, Hinata!" Hanamura approached the other teen when it was lunch break, "Why are you late today? Could you be- woah! The hell, Hinata!"

From his slumped position on the table, Hinata looked up, and, Hanamura was afraid to say, his eyes were dead, just like a dead fish! It was as if his soul had been sucked dry by a demon!

Hanamura scratched his head as he asked, "What the heck did you do?"

Hinata, still with the dead fish eyes, answered, "Basketball morning practice." Hinata slumped back on the table with a huge 'thunk!'

Hanamura winced.

"I told you their practices are hell. Wait…" Hanamura pondered a moment, "Basketball morning practice? Basketball club does not have morning practice!"

"It's personal training…" Hinata mumbled from his desk.

"You don't have to force yourself that much, you know?" Hanamura cut in.

Hinata looked up, eye brow twitching in annoyance. "It's my personal training, with Akashi training me!" he growled.

There were a few moments of silence, before the whole class – at least the one who were present in the class now – suddenly let out a huge, disbelieving "Eeeeh? What!"

"Akashi trained you personally!"

"Even Haku, the first year's basketball star, only made it to the second string!"

Shouyou Hinata, a first year - and a short one at that - caught the captain's eyes that the captain sees fit for himself to train Hinata. This must mean that Hinata has some good skills that compensate his lack of height, but Hanamura couldn't see anything special about Hinata as he looked at Hinata's slumped form. He is fit, but not too buff. His body is obviously built up for speed, but how could that be enough for Akashi's standard?

Akashi training Hinata… He must've expected Hinata to rise quickly to a regular, but what was so special about him?

"Oi, oi," Hanamura started, "you are not joking, are you?"

"No… my body hurts. My hands won't stop shaking. I can't even stand properly. Captain made me sprint 138 laps around the court while dribbling, then he made me jump to hold the basketball net for 50 times. Not to mention that eyes. Ah… I also need to practice with him after class… I'm dying right now."

Hanamura blanched at the thought of training that much in the morning. His soccer club was intense, but not that intense!

"Hai, hai," Hanamura patted his new friend's hair in comfort as his other hand rummaged around his bag. He took out a melon bun, opened it, and placed it right beside Hinata's head. "Here, comfort food. You slept through the lessons, you know? It's lunch break right now."

Hinata's nose twitched as he shot up, his gaze immediately landed on the bun hungrily. "Thanks!"

Hinata grinned as he took a huge bite from the bread.

.o0o.o0o.

"Midorima. You'll be training someone today," Akashi said as he moved the pawns of his Shogi pieces.

"Is it that first year I heard about?" Midorima asked as he pushed his glasses up. "What's his sign?"

"Cancer, just like you, so I'll expect no complains."

Midarima nodded dutifully. He moved the pawn of his Shogi pieces.

"Yesterday Oha-Asa mentioned that Cancers will meet someone interesting in the near future, so we have to carry our lucky items," Midorima said as he patted a huge green doll with a smiling flower as its head that was resting on his side, "And today's lucky item is a flower toy, so I choose the flower doll which have additional 4-leaf clover patterns."

Akashi ignored Midorima and moved his Shogi piece.

As usual, Midorima had lost against Akashi in Shogi, though, in an even more important matter…

He was in the first gym, eyes searching for orange hair, though, for some reason or another, he can't seem to find the first year's famed orange hair. Momoi was training the first stringers, blowing the whistle as they jumped. With all the first strings aligned like that, it should be easy for him to search for an orange hair.

As the whistle blew, the first strings jumped together, and…

There! An orange hair!

Though when the first strings landed, the orange hair disappeared. Midorima then noticed that there was a missing spot in the neatly aligned players.

So that's where he is…

Midorima weaved through the students, going to the missing spot and finding the first year. The first year looked up at him ridiculously, and he stared down at the first year.

This is ridiculous! This first year is even shorter than the average 13 years old!

"You," Midorima started, "I am Midorima Shintaro. Akashi wants you to train under me today. We'll be using the football field, since no one is there today. Follow me."

The first year just stared at him, not even moving a muscle.

"What?" Midorima irately asked.

"Ano… On your back…" the first year pointed on the thing he piggy backed.

It was the flower doll, its head resting limply on Midorima's shoulder with an ever present eerie smile sewed to its face.

Frankly, Hinata was freaked out with the flower.

"Oh, this?" Midorima asked as he patted the flower's head with one hand. "You're a Cancer, so you should know that this is today's lucky item from Oha-Asa horoscope."

"Horoscope?" What was that? Hinata didn't know. Is that edible?

"Follow me. We are wasting enough time as it is."

"Hai!"

When they reached the football field though, Hinata had been expecting some sort of super cool training that 'breaks the limit of the limits' and evolve him into the next stage, only to hear one line Hinata did not expect to hear.

"We'll play fetch."

"Eeehhh?"

Midorima pushed his glasses up as he continued. "I'll throw the basketball," he gestured to a huge box of basketball beside him, "and you'll fetch it before the ball comes in contact with the ground. Dribble it and place it in the basket afterwards. Don't worry, our luck is good since I have our lucky item with us."

"Eeeehhh? What kind of training is that? What does the last sentence even mean?"

Truth was, even Midorima didn't know. Akashi's orders are Akashi's order, no matter how absurd it is, there are reasons unknown even to Midorima, who happens to be the closest to Akashi in terms of brain capabilities.

Midorima gently placed his lucky item on a bench nearby, ignoring Hinata's last question, and then he took a ball and threw it in the air with his trademark shot, the high arc one.

"Fetch it, quick," Midorima ordered the boy. "For every shot you failed to catch, you will run another lap while dribbling the ball."

"Gyaak!" Hinata blanched. He quickly ran after the ball, shouting out a loud "ORYAAAA!" Sad thing was, the ball landed before he was even half way there. Hinata slumped on his knee and looked at the ball morosely.

One… extra… lap to run…

"What are you waiting for! Get the ball back here! You're wasting your time!"

The second time Midorima threw the ball, it went to the other side of the football field. Hinata didn't waste anymore and immediately run after it. When the ball was close enough, he jumped, extended his hand, and caught the ball.

"Waahooo!" Hinata jumped up and down in joy, only to have a basketball thrown to his head.

"Dribble it back here! You fool!"

Midorima's training had gotten crueler and crueler from that point on as the arc become lower and lower.

.o0o.o0o.

Hinata had thought after all the hell that had happened today, he will finally rest his sore body on his soft fluffy bed, but…

"Hinata," the captain ordered when both he and Midorima returned from the football field, "stay, your training is not done yet."

"B-but the other first strings are already gone!"

"You are different; therefore your training will be different. Stay back with the other regulars."

Hinata, a creature of instinct that he is, sensed the power Akashi gives out and immediately obliged. When Akashi turned his gaze away, that's the time Hinata relaxed.

"Midorima." Akashi addressed the green head.

"29 failed catches, though overall, he is quite fast. His stamina is huge." Midorima reported.

"It's to be expected," Momoi joined in, "Hinata lived in mountainous area. To go to his elementary school, he needs to travel quite a distant every day."

"Eh? So you are a country boy?" a voice said mockingly.

Hinata's brow twitched when he realized who that voice belongs to.

"Shut up, you ganguro!" Hinata hissed back as he turned around to the tanned teen leaning on the wall near Momoi.

Only to bump into a huge wall that suddenly appeared out of nothing. Hinata fell onto his butt at the impact. He was about to send retort to the person who bumped him, only for the words to die in his throat when he looked up.

Because, in place of the wall, there was an extremely tall person looming over him.

Hinata's mind was immediately full of the blaring alarm signaling that this person was DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS…

"Oya? Who's this?" asked the purple haired giant as he looked down to Hinata. The giant took out another chip and chew on it.

Hinata briefly wondered if he would end up like the chip.

"Mmm… Maybe I should crush you?"

The giant slowly reached his hand down, causing Hinata to hiss in defense since he can't do anything. He was sprawled on the ground; he can't run.

But Hinata blinked when, instead of a crushing pain, he felt a huge yet heavy hand patting his head.

He glanced up at the now smiling giant.

"Just kidding~"

Hinata gaped. That was just kidding? He can surely feel the true intent to crush! Not to mention, the size! Look at the height! And the eyes! More importantly – the height!

Aomine swore he heard a creaking sound as he watched Hinata turn his head to face the captain, though when he realized Hinata was sweating bullets, he can't hold back the urge to tease.

"Bwahahaha! So you are scared of Murasakibara!"

"Shut up!" was the reply of the now pissed Hinata.

"The shrimp is scared of the giant!" Aomine continued.

"Shut up, Ahomine!" Momoi cuts in as she kneeled beside Hinata and crushed the smaller boy to her chest, and looked accusingly at her childhood friend. "Or I'll tell your mother that you are a bully!"

"Buh- What the hell Satsuki! I was just teasing!"

Unknown to the childhood duo who was still bickering, Hinata struggled to get free from Momoi's killer hugs all the while trying to keep himself from hyperventilating. His face grew redder and redder and smokes started to come out of his ears. His shouts of help were muffled by Momoi's ample chest.

"Ah," Midorima absentmindedly commented, "it seems that my lucky item does not affect his luck."

Akashi sighed, knowing full well that it was up to him to stop the situation once more; Midorima doesn't usually succeed in stopping the fights between regulars and Atsushi can't do anything to save his life other than eating, basketball, and sleeping.

"That's enough. Aomine, stop it. Momoi, you are suffocating him."

Aomine promptly shut up and Momoi immediately let go of Hinata, fusing over him and apologizing to him repeatedly. Hinata, still red faced, stiffly replied that he was okay and immediately run to the only person he gets along with, namely Midorima, and hid behind his back as he hissed defensively in a cat like manner.

"It seems Haizaki has ditched our practice again," Midorima commented, completely non-pulsed with Hinata's animalistic behavior as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "His attitude really needs to stop, Akashi. With Hinata going to be a regular, will we still require him?"

"His skills… are still a necessity." Akashi answered, "It is unique, even among us, and I'd prefer to have those skills still in our disposal. Hinata's skill set, on the other hand, is rather similar to Aomine's."

Hinata, not knowing who this Haizaki was, tugged on Midorima's cloth and started his own small conversation, "Who's Haizaki?"

"Another regular," Midorima answered, his face setting into a grimace, "though he was not likeable even in the slightest."

"Oh!" Momoi exclaimed, "So Hi-chan is like Aomine's junior!"

Hinata deduced that this Hi-chan is probably him, so…

"As if I want to be like a gorilla!"

"That shrimp is nothing like me!"

Both glared at each other for the insult.

"Don't start." Akashi warned, Aomine froze on the spot and Hinata shrunk back to Midorima's back. Satisfied with the resulting silence, Akashi continued, "We are going to do a 3 versus 2, 20 point half-court match. The members of each group will change after each round. Momoi will be overseeing this practice."

Akashi gave Momoi the clipboard he had been holding and explained some things to her, Momoi nodded in understanding. All the players entered the court; Momoi held the ball in one arm and the clipboard in another and stood in the center.

"First round will be…" Momoi checked the clipboard, "Hinata and Daiki versus Akashi, Murasakibara and Midorima."

"What!" Hinata and Aomine shouted in incredulity.

"It's what written here," Momoi said, looking at Akashi for confirmation.

"I've never make a mistake, Momoi," Akashi answered impassively; "It is my decision."

Both Aomine and Hinata reluctantly stood beside each other, both holding the expression of eating something sour.

"First ball belongs to Hinata and Aominei," Momoi said. She passed the ball to the duo.

When Aomine caught it, he glared at Hinata and held the ball protectively, away from the glaring Hinata, as if saying, "Get lost! This ball is mine!"

Hinata, in response, hissed.

It's not like the both of them can start pulling punches with Akashi in the vicinity.

Murasakibara, still holding a large bag of chips, stood under the hoop, while Midorima, the 3-point specialist that he is, stood outside of the 3-point line. Akashi strolled inside the 3-point circle, indicating that even if he is one of the players, he will not be joining unless necessary. Hinata stood somewhere around the corner.

The whistle was blown, Aomine passed to Midorima, and Midorima returned the ball back to Aomine. Aomine quickly dribbled away from Midorima, quickly approaching Murasakibara.

Murasakibara, lazy ass that he is, did not bother to block Aomine, instead, he took another chip and bit on it.

But before Aomine could go into his shooting form, Akashi slapped the ball to Midorima. Midorima was about to jump to shoot, but Hinata grabbed the ball away before Midorima reached his highest point. Hinata smirked at Aomine as he dribbled toward the hoop.

This time, it was Aomine's turn to glower.

Murasakibara took out his last chip, sighed in disappointment when he saw the inside of the bag. He crushed the bag of empty chip, threw it to the side, and averted his attention to Hinata.

"I'll crush you."

Hinata flinched when he felt that murderous aura coming out of the giant. He wanted to stop and pass the ball to Aomine, but with the speed he was running, he will bump into the giant, so Hinata chose the second best option that popped into his mind.

Slide in between Murasakibara's leg.

And Hinata did just that, using his short height as an advantage against Murasakibara's long legs.

Though, with Murasakibara standing so close to the ring, Hinata is unable to have an appropriate space to do the standard shot. He blindly threw the ball upwards right after he slides past the giant.

Aomine, who stood close to Murasakibara, immediately jumped and dunked the ball.

Hinata, on the other hand, remained sliding until his knee bumped against the pillar withholding the hoop.

There was a moment of silence as Murasakibara glared at the smallest teen, Aomine stared blankly at Hinata, not believing that he lost to the shrimp and Midorima noticed that Akashi was staring intently at Hinata, forming training regimes that was sure to be hellish for Hinata.

"Oha-Asa also said that something unexpected will happen today to Cancers that will lead to a routine," Midorima commented as he pushed his glasses up, deducing that this routine for Hinata refers to Akashi's new training regime, while his own new routine is training Hinata.

The game continued, Hinata and Aomine lost badly despite gaining the first point.

"Next game will be…" Momoi checked the clipboard, "Akashi, Murasakibara and Aomine against Midorima and Hinata."

Hinata's face immediately brightened, "I'm with you, Midorima-sempai!"

Sempai…

Midorima-sempai…

Midorima could feel butterfly of happiness fluttering inside his stomach, though his face remained impassive. "Don't be happy yet. Winning against the captain, ace and the tallest middle school student won't be an easy feat."

"Ace?" Hinata looked at the opponent, searching for the ace.

Captain : Akashi

Tallest middle school student : Murasakibara

Which means ace is… Ahomine…

"Eeeehhh? I can't believe it!" Hinata exclaimed, pointing at Aomine. "That gorilla is the ace? I refuse to believe it! I'll take the position of ace from you!"

Aomine's eyebrow twitched. "Haaa? What did you just call me, shrimp? You can never get the position of ace from me."

"Oh? Try me, gorilla-"

Hinata was stopped when Midorima forced his head down.

When the starting whistle was blown, Hinata passed the ball to Midorima, who immediately attempted his trademark 3 point shot. Hinata is unable to shoot a ball since the first game with Murasakibara honing on him, so all Hinata could do is steal and pass it to Midorima. The second game was mostly a race between Aomine's 2-points and Midorima's 3-points.

The balance of the game, however, was tipped when Akashi decided to get involved. The game ended in 20 – 18 with Akashi's group winning.

"The last game will be… Midorima and Aomine against Akashi, Murasakibara and Hinata."

Momoi now understood Akashi's purpose in this game. It was to test Hinata's skills and how well he will work with the others. Under any normal circumstances, Akashi would've paired Hinata with Murasakibara in one game and then with Akashi on another game, but considering that Murasakibara would not want to go against Akashi, Akashi placed the three of them together in one go.

Though, with Murasakibara and Hinata in one group, Murasakibara seem to lost the playing spirit he possessed earlier and was back to idly standing under the hoop.

The game started with Akashi passing the ball, not to Hinata, but to an empty spot, out of the reach of most of the players. Hinata ran as quick as possible and threw the ball back to Akashi using one hand. Akashi passed the ball to Murasakibara who then threw it into the hoop.

Among all the games, the most taxing one for Hinata will be the last one, since Akashi seems to be forcing him to run all around the half court by passing the ball to far places. It was mostly a battle between Midorima's shots and Hinata's scoring, since Aomine's shots were mostly blocked by Murasakibara. It was Hinata's first win, in 20-17.

When practice was done, Hinata went home with a sore body, dreading the basketball practice that will come together with the next day.

.o0o.o0o.

A/N:

Heiyaa…! Just wondering what animals represents the characters the best, and I'm totally confused with it!

Akashi: Lion

Aomine: Panther

Midorima: Some sort of bird?

Murasakibara: Big animals? Possibly Bear?

Haizaki: Totally not sure, perhaps hyena? Since both are irritating?

Kise: Fox

Kagami: Tiger (I'm extremely sure with this)

Kuroko: a small animal?

Hinata: Gaahh! I'm not sure in settling on strong yet quick or cute yet fetal animal!

Kageyama: Same like Hinata… Maybe wolf?