Expressing it Out
Chapter 2: The Basketball Match
As a couple more days passed on, Thursday finally came, and Mikoto was even more psyched for Friday.
"Hey, Mikoto!" Tenma suddenly said, as Mikoto and her three friends were walking home from school , "Are you going to the basketball match tomorrow at four o' clock?"
"Yeah, Mikoto! You must go! Asou's going to be participating in it!" Eri snickered, noticing Mikoto's beet-red face. She had always loved teasing Mikoto, especially about her weak spot- love.
"I'm pretty interested in basketball," Mikoto lied, "So I might as well go and see for myself." She was still reluctant to tell her friends about her secret relationship with Asou. "By the way, are you three going too?" Mikoto added, hoping to change the subject about Asou. It's been nearly a week since their last conversation on the cellphone, even though they never talk at school, Asou was almost always on Mikoto's mind.
"I think we should go as well! After all, it is our school team's match!" Tenma suggested cheerfully with her world-famous optimism and a huge smile.
"Sure, I bet Mikoto would want a little support for cheering on Asou anyway!" Eri laughed, twirling one of her blonde ponytails around her finger.
"N-no! What are you saying, Eri! I'm just interested in the sport!" Mikoto sputtered, as she gradually turned red again.
"All right then, how about we meet tomorrow in front of the school at three forty-five in the afternoon?" Tenma inquired.
Everyone agreed and finally stopped wondering about Friday and Asou.
Mikoto heaved a sigh of relief and continued to look forward to Friday.
That night, Mikoto thought of nothing but the basketball match.
I guess it's not too bad that those three are going. I mean, it's not like I'm actually going to cheer for him out loud at the top of my lungs! Mikoto half-heartedly thought. She didn't have time to worry about her friends finding out about Asou, her mind was way too eager for the following day to come.
The next day finally came, as planned, Mikoto headed for school as three forty-five drew closer. When she arrived at the school gate, she met up with Eri, Tenma, and Akira, and they were ready to watch the game.
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Meanwhile down at the basketball courts, Asou was practicing basketball with his teammates, hoping to brush up some last minute moves before the start of the game.
"Hey Asou! We're counting on you today! With you on our team, the victory is ours for sure!" A teammate yelled and clapped Asou on the back as he passed by.
Asou felt confident. He knew Mikoto would be at the match, watching his team (or him) win the match. In his head, he pictures Mikoto watching his game, smiling whenever he scores, and clapping her hands with joy when the match was over because of his team's victory.
"Asou! Pass the ball! You better not lose concentration during the actual match!" The coach shouted as he noticed Asou's absentmindedness.
"All right, coach!" Asou called back, I better stay focus on basketball! If I don't, I'll be humiliated, even in front of Suou!"
The clock finally struck four, and the match began. Mikoto and her friends already found front seats on the blacktop, nearest to the basketball court.
"KY-AA! It's Asou! Look, he's right over there!" A huge group of girls screamed when they spotted Asou.
Mikoto's heart lurched as she heard the shrieks. It made her eyes attempt to see where Asou was, and her mind wonder why the girls spotted him quicker than she did.
When she finally saw Asou, he had already scored two points, and was attempting to score again. She noticed whenever he had his hands on the ball, his fans would always shriek "KY-AA! Asou's so cool!"
Whoa, Mikoto thought, I never knew Asou was THAT popular with the girls in our school! Her heart flinched again, as she imagined all those rivals in love awaiting her.
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As Mikoto sat at the front lines of the audience, Asou was on the court, dribbling the ball down to the opponent's net. As he dodged the opponents who were in his way, his mind was switched from the basketball game to Mikoto. His eyes itched to turn to the crowd and find her, but his body forced him to concentrate on winning the match.
"KY-AAA! Asou scored again! Everyone look!" As the girls shrieked again, Mikoto was at her limit. She could not stand the shrieking and screaming about Asou anymore.
"I'm going to the restroom for a bit! I'll be right back!" Mikoto told Akira, and stood up to walk toward the school building.
However, right at that moment when Mikoto stood up, Asou saw her at the corner of his eye. His head whipped around and he immediately heard a bunch of girls scream.
"Ohmigosh! Asou's looking over at the audience! Asou! Look over here! KY-AA!" The girls were hysterical and loud; however, Asou ignored them and looked into Mikoto's direction.
"ASOU! The ball's passed to you! GET IT!" A shout suddenly rang in, but it was too late. Asou's reaction was too slow, and the ball was flying toward the speculators.
"Mikoto! The ball's headed toward you! Watch out!" Tenma wailed.
"Huh?" Mikoto's head snapped back. Confused about what was happening to her, Mikoto ended up tripping over the ball. After landing on the ground with her ankle crashed onto the blacktop, she realized how clumsy she had been.
I'm such an idiot, Mikoto thought to herself, I just humiliated myself in front of Asou, wherever he is! If I was paying attention, I could have at least prevented myself from falling down! Her heart dropped like a rock, and her leg's pain increased. Her mind was brimming with thoughts about her carelessness and Asou.
"Mikoto, Mikoto, MIKOTO!" It was until Mikoto snapped out of her mental state that she noticed the school nurse had been calling her name continuously.
"What? Oh, my ankle? It's nothing! It's probably just a scratch!" Mikoto gave a little laugh and stood up.
"Oww! Ugh!" Mikoto groaned and fell back down. The pain was actually too much for her, she knew she needed to rest.
"Come on, Mikoto, we're heading to my office, you need to rest that ankle of yours!" The nurse gently ordered. She took Mikoto by the arm, and started off toward the school building.
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Meanwhile after Mikoto's accident, Asou stared wide-eyed at the crowd. His mind was panicking, his feet were tempted to follow Mikoto to the school building, but a part of him forced him to stay put. His mind was debating whether or not to follow, until some of his teammates ran up to him and started yelling.
"Asou! I told you to get the ball! Look! The other team is catching up!" "What's wrong with you?" "You've never been so absentminded before! Please focus on the game!" A bunch of questions flew out at Asou, but he stayed quiet and struggled to ignore the noise around him.
I need to find Suou, it's probably my fault that she got hurt! I'll just have to leave the game up to these guys, if that's possible.
When Asou finally came to a conclusion, he decided that he was going to go see Mikoto, even if it meant risking a basketball match.
"I'm sorry you guys, can I excuse myself for a moment?" Asou asked, and broke through the ring of teammates around him. After leaving his awed teammates behind, he started across the blacktop, toward the school building.
(End of Chapter 2) Please post a review if possible, and Chapter 3: Promise to Victory will be coming soon!