Normal POV

It was the first day of basketball practice and Takao was nervous and happy at the same time. Happy that she could finally is a manager again but nervous because she would be meeting her senpai from the basketball team. But Midorima was just as usual, confident and being himself. Even today, he was holding a huge model of an Elmer's glue stick. To be honest, the orange of the glue stick and his hair color, along with the school uniform made him look more ridiculous than usual. Takao had doubled over in laughter in the morning when she saw him. He looked so much like a carrot and she couldn't help herself. Of course, Midorima being the tsundere he is, just fumed and turned away from the manager.

As Takao and Midorima stepped into the gym, there was a pregnant silence. Finally after a few awkward moments, one of the senpai broke the silence.

"Hello, Midorima-kun. Welcome to our Shutoku basketball team. I hope that you will enjoy your time in our school." Greeted the captain of the team, Otsubo. The way he said it showed that he was going to be polite and do his best to get along with them. "Nice to meet you too…. Ummm."

Takao just smiled cheerfully and answered her senpai. Well, this was a nice start to practice wasn't it.

"Takao Kazunari. Just call me Kazu-chan, senpai."

After a series of introductions from the team, practice finally began. Takao went to the coach to talk to him about being a manager for the regulars of Shutoku but his answer was a shock to her.

"Sorry, Takao-san, but we already have a manager for the regulars. But we have an open slot for the first and second stringers" Added the coach, hoping to make some sort of adjustment with the positions.

Takao couldn't believe it. She came all the way to Shutoku to be the manager of the first and second string instead of the regulars?

"Ah….Sure," agreed Takao. After all, she did quit playing basketball to be a manager of the basketball team. Might as well be a manager for the first and second stringers rather than be useless and just complain about not getting to be the manager of her beloved "Shin-chan". "Can I ask who is the manager of the regulars?"

Her question was answered when a girl came running through the doors of the gym.

"Sorry, Coach. Sensei wanted to me to collect the homework and it took a little longer. Sorry that I was late."

Takao POV

Just my luck! This girl is the manager?! She's completely Shin-chan's type. I examined her closer to find that my evidence supported the fact even more. Tall, skinny, pretty. Perfect figure. Mature look. Obviously older. Looks smart. Even seems friendly.….Hah….. This girl is completely Shin-chan's type. I don't even stand a chance against her.

When I turned around, I felt a pang of hurt. Shin-chan was checking her out. Not really, but STILL. His eyes followed her wherever she went and his cheeks had a slight blush. His eyes were practically sparkling and he looked as if he was in love. Scratch that, he was in love. I could recognize that look anywhere; it was the same look Momoi has around Kuroko. I had imagined him with that expression on his face countless times now; the only difference was that he was thinking about me, not someone else.

"Takao-san? Are you okay?" asked the coach worriedly.

"Huh? Yea, I'm fine." I answered hastily. I hope he didn't see anything. "Where is the first and second string?"

"You can just watch practice for a while. They'll meet here in about 10 minutes and then they'll move to the second gym."

"Yea. Sure." I said cheerfully, plastering a fake smile across my face.

Bitterly, I turned around and sat on the bleachers. I listened to the others' conversations. From them, I gathered that she was Fujimoto Haruka. She was a third year at the top of her classes. Also, she is very popular with both genders and is known as Shutoku's fairy. She was the girlfriend that all guys wanted and the ideal that all girls wanted to be. Fujimoto is the daughter that everyone compares their child to and the hardworking student that all the teachers like.

I sighed and turned away from the ones talking in front of me. How could I compete with her? I couldn't even get Shin-chan to see me as a woman, let alone love interest. When I looked up from my brooding, I saw that some basketball players were gathering at the corner of the gym. They were probably the first and second string. I gathered my stuff and walked up to introduce myself.

"Nice to meet you. Takao Kazunari at your service. Just call me Kazu-chan please" I greeted cheerfully. I re-plastered the fake smile on my face. After all, I wouldn't be able to get over my defeat so quickly.

One by one, the members introduced themselves to me and then we finally began to practice. Practice was just an assessment of skills and if the players were good enough to be in that string. Coach didn't really expect me to do anything except fetch water and towels during practice. The players didn't need me to do that since they could do it themselves. Instead, I took notes on each player's strengths and weaknesses. I took notes on what and how they could improve on. After all, I used to be a manager in Teiko and even before that, I was a basketball player. Of course I would know these things. I might not be Momoi or a Generation of Miracle, but I sure as hell wasn't your average manager.

When practice almost ended, I gathered in all the players instead of pushing them to do the rest of the workout that the coach gave me. He said to follow it unless we ran out time. I guess this does count. One by one, I told the players the data I collected on them. They were amazed.

"How'd you know I wasn't flexible enough? Can you tell me an effective way to help me?"

"You're amazing, Takao-san."

Being showered by their praise, a small grin formed on my face.

"Good job, you guys. I hope you guys consider what I've told you. I mean, I was a manager at Teiko. I'm pretty sure I give good advice."

.

As soon as the practice was over, I rushed over to the first gym. I had made some honey lemon for Midorima and I wanted to give it to him as a "congratulations on joining Shutoku" gift. I made them especially for him. As I swerved around the corner and closer to the gym door, I heard Minami saying something. I stopped and held my breath. I had a bad feeling.

"Good practice, everyone. I made some snacks for you guys since it's your first practice and all."

I took a quick glance and saw that they were crowding around her. Even Midorima, the tsundere, took a snack from her. They looked cute and yummy. The snacks she made looked great. I saw some cookies and muffins. Midorima muttered something similar to thanks and then began to eat it. There was still a slight blush on his cheeks as he ate.

Knowingly, I just put the box back into my bag. Of course Midorima wouldn't eat it. They weren't anything special and they were good at best. It wasn't anything that was uber delicious or cute. Even back then, Midorima only ate them since Kuroko and Akashi chided him to in order to not hurt my feelings. I overheard them once when I was walking past the locker room. Midorima had just thrown away the cookies I made him and Kuroko and Akashi were telling him that he should at least try them before throwing them away like that. When they came out, Kuroko apologized for Midorima's actions. I had said that it was fine; it happened before anyways. After that, whenever I made anything, the team would eat it and Midorima would just try it and then walk away after seeing Akashi nod. He wouldn't say it was good or anything either, her would just walk away. Anyways, I knew that they were just eating it because they didn't want to be mean. The snacks I made weren't bad but at the same time they weren't especially delicious. Murasakibara was probably the only one who really enjoyed them.

But now, no one would eat them. I sighed as I wallowed in my sadness. What a waste of food. I just tied the top of the bag and then held it like that. I'll just throw it away when I get home. Nobody except for me was going to eat them. When I turned around to go home, I heard I voice.

"Hey manager-san!"

It was Miyaji Yuya. He was a second year in the first string. He might not be as good as his brother but he was still in the first string.

"Ah! Senpai" I said as I bowed to show my respects.

Yuya-senpai jogged up to me and then stopped. His eyes darted to the bag I held and I tried to put it behind my back to somewhat shield it from his vision.

"What are you holding?" He nodded his head towards the bag in my hands.

"This?" I held up the plastic bag. "Oh. It's just some trash I was going to throw away."

"Really? It smells like food."

I smiled a little. At least it smelled like food.

"Yea. It's just something I was going to throw away" I said, trying to get the bag further away from him.

"Let me see." He took the bag that I tried to put in my backpack and then opened it.

"See! I was right!" he proclaimed proudly. "It is food!" Senpai paused for a moment and then he turned towards me. "It looks good. Can I have some?"

I was flustered. It was something I was going to throw away. How could I feed someone that?

"I was going to throw it away. Senpai probably won't think it's good anyway."

Against my protests, he still took a slice and put it in his mouth.

"Mhmm. It's good" he hummed as he took another slice.

My eyes widened and I got a bit flustered.

"Really?" I squeaked. Shin-chan never said anything like that before and I knew the rest of the guys were forced to say that. But no one was forcing him. "You like it?"

Yuya grinned cheerfully.

"Yea. Why would you throw away something like this? It's delicious!" He shrugged and then turned around. "Whatever. Just give it to me next time, 'kay? I'll eat it!"

Waving good bye, Senpai left instead of waiting for his brother.

"Bye, manager-san! I'll return the box to you tomorrow 'kay?"

I grinned happily. This made my day a lot better.

"No problem. Thanks."

.

I waited at the school gates for Shin-chan, and the moment he came close enough for me to see him, I was elated. Just seeing me made my heart flutter. I called out to him and waved to him.

"Shin-chan~"

Midorima gave me a look that clearly said to not embarrass him. Looking behind him, I saw the regulars of the basketball team and Fujimoto. Ah. I shut up and just waited for Shin-chan to come. When he finally reached the school gates, he pulled me to the side and glared at me.

"What are you doing?" hissed Midorima after we were on the side."Don't embarrass me like that anymore. I've had enough." He hardened his glare and stared at me. "Understand?"

Chuckling nervously, I scratched the back of my head. Was this because of Fujimoto too? After a few seconds, I answered him.

"I-i-if that's what you want." I stuttered nervously. "Sure…."

Shin-chan looked at me again.

"Forget that, don't even come near me, nanodayo. You're just a disaster waiting to happen."

"Sh-shin-chan." I protested. "Is it because of Fuji-"

He glanced at me with a disgusted face that made me shut my mouth. He gave me a look over.

"Such a disgrace."

With those three words, he left me alone, crying in front of the school gates. Luckily, the senpai had left as we were talking and didn't see anything. I wouldn't want his reputation to be ruined.

.

The moment I got home, I dumped everything on my bed and then cried my eyes out. I cried for Shin-chan leaving me, I cried for the memories that he left me with, but most of all, I cried for being so stupid. Being so stupid that he would treat me like that. Maybe I really am a disgrace.

I went to the bathroom and looked at my reflection. I hated what I saw. Ugly brown eyes that were red rimmed. Flushed cheeks that did me no good. A too round face. Eyes that were too close together. A flat nose. Eyebrows that did nothing to help my face look better. Black hair that was thin and messy. Everything I saw made me want to cry. Then I looked at my body. Legs that were fat and short. Arms that were overridden with scars and marks from playing basketball and doing errands. Flat chest that flattered nobody. Body that was covered with rough skin and calloused rather than the silky smooth skin of other girls. Shoulders that were broad instead of being petite and fragile like it was supposed to be. A thin layer of muscle covered my body, not the softness that girls were supposed to have. I finally stopped assessing myself.

I thought about. No one would even consider me beautiful. Of course Shin-chan would say that I'm embarrassing. Even I thought that I was ugly. No wonder he chose senpai over me. If I was a guy, I would too.

Maybe I shouldn't have came here….. I should've stayed with girls' basketball.

Moriyama Yuya POV

That's so weird. Why would Takao-san throw this away. It tastes pretty good… Whatever. Maybe girls are just like that?