"Uwah~ so even the high and mighty manager has fallen."
Her voice was chilly, blunt, and harsh. Satsuki didn't feel like playing around. "What do you want, Haizaki-kun?"
"How cold...I was just saying hello."
Satsuki sighed, glancing up from her phone. "You dyed your hair," she commented idly, magenta eyes sweeping over his figure dismissively. "Black looks hideous on you."
"Blunt as ever," he snorted. His eyes were sharp, dangerous. Satsuki knew that she should be on her guard, but she somehow wasn't feeling particularly threatened. Maybe the Generation of Miracles had stolen her soul as well as her spirit. "Did you finally figure out that those guys weren't worth hanging out with?"
"About as much as you did," she returned, rolling her eyes. Satsuki already knew that Akashi played an important role in Haizaki's departure. "Are you done playing around with that girl?"
"Kise-kun's girlfriend? I dumped her a month ago: she was really annoying," he drawled, shrugging. "Say, why don't you go out with me?"
"I'm not interested in being an accessory again, Haizaki-kun," Satsuki rejected bluntly.
"Why not? Us quitters should stick together, right?" he leered at her, laughing as she shrunk back from him. "It's rude to refuse such a kind offer."
Satsuki would not give any ground. "It's rude to force yourself on a girl you once called your teammate."
"You? Our teammate? Don't make me laugh, Sa~tsu~ki," he purred. "You were just our cheerleader. Inconsequential, really, and essentially useless. Then again, it was fun to steal your snacks, so maybe you weren't that bad. You and Daiki made decent entertainment, at least."
"Sacchan!"
"Ah, Micchan, Acchan!" Satsuki blinked, spotting her two female friends. "What are you two doing here?"
"We were heading to the mall, remember?" Acchan scolded. She turned and glared at Haizaki. "Oi, stop bothering Sacchan, Haizaki. Just because you're bitter about leaving the club doesn't mean you have to go spreading your bitterness to everyone else. Do you want Akashi-kun to hear about this?"
"Oh, so you're threatening me with the captain, eh?" he sneered. "Go, then. Run to your precious Akashi-kun."
Kikuchi Atsuko may not have been Teiko's first string manager, but she had to be strong to endure the constant harassment from Teiko's female population for managing the third string. Satsuki's friend hardly faltered as Haizaki drew near, threatening, "Just because I quit martial arts to act as the third string manager doesn't mean I can't kick your ass, Haizaki."
Micchan rolled her eyes, pulling out her phone and waving it tauntingly at Haizaki. "We have photographic evidence~ You wouldn't want that precious private academy you applied to hearing about this, right?"
Haizaki scowled at them, but backed off. "Troublesome women," he shouted abrasively, storming off.
"Unchivalrous bastard," Acchan shot back, waving her fist menacingly at the ex-basketball player's retreating figure. "C'mon, Satsuki. Let's go," she demanded.
"That idiot might get ideas if we stay," Micchan agreed, tugging on her arm. "If he approaches you again, just give us a call, okay? We'll come running."
Even...even though Satsuki didn't have her team's support, she still had her friends'. A small smile appeared on her face.
"Eh? Ah...okay."
Somehow, the Generation of Miracles backed off. Satsuki was grateful: undoubtedly, Kuroko had done something. In fact, they hardly interacted with her for several months...until finally, about three weeks before the national tournament (Satsuki couldn't help but check the date every so often: old habits died hard), Midorima approached her in the hallway.
"Momoi-san, do you have a nail filer?"
Satsuki blinked, tilting her head. He was probably asking because it was his lucky item. "Ah, I do," she replied out of habit, methodically reaching into her purse. "Please return it to me tomorrow."
"Of course. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
It wasn't until five minutes later did Satsuki realize that...she had talked to a member of the team without her chest hurting (significantly). Satsuki...Satsuki was moving on from basketball (and from them).
(At least, that was what she was trying to convince herself of.)
"Yo, Satsuki."
It was as if she was talking to a stranger. There was a long, awkward pause as she turned around and tried to find a suitable greeting. Finally, she settled on: "Aomine-kun."
Evidently, he could feel the awkward tension between them as well. Aomine scowled, shoving his hands into his pockets so he had something to do. "We're all going to different high schools. You...where are you going?"
"...ah. I'm not sure."
"You're...not sure."
"Dunno, maybe somewhere with high examination scores?" Satsuki shrugged. "It's about time I focused on my studies more. You should too, Aomine-kun."
"You should come to Touou."
"I heard it's very lively there," Satsuki replied evasively. She glanced at him, lips tugging upwards into a wry smirk. "And undoubtedly with you, it'll be even livelier."
Aomine rolled his eyes, lazily plopping on the bench to sit beside her. "You always know these things," he complained.
"Akashi-kun's going to Rakuzan, Kise-kun's heading to Kaijou, Midorima-kun to Shuutoku, Murasakibara-kun to Yousen, and Kuroko-kun to Seirin," Satsuki continued, giggling at the scared look on her childhood friend's face. She was grateful that he didn't comment about their names, so she elaborated, "It's pretty hard to not notice when that's all the girls in class are talking about. Their idols, breaking apart. It's as if you guys were their favorite boy band or something."
Aomine scrunched his nose. "I can't dance."
"I know you can't, dummy." She had seen his dancing first-hand, after all. "Seirin's too new of a school to have a nice academic program, Yousen's a mission-kei, Shuutoku's rather strict, and Kaijou's very sports-orientated. So I guess I'll go to either Rakuzan or Touou...then again, there are other options. Maybe I should head to Kirisaki Daiichi."
"That school? Really, Satsuki? I thought you had better taste."
"Their basketball team may be rotten...but their academics are decent," she said contemplatively.
"Oi! You can't seriously be considering them."
"Joking, Dai-chan, joking," she laughed, unconsciously using his nickname. "I'll probably go to Touou. Rakuzan's too far, anyways."
Aomine slouched, and although she couldn't see his features, Satsuki liked to pretend that the ease in his shoulders was from relief. "Don't bother me too much."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
Satsuki couldn't help it. On a sunny Saturday afternoon, she was indoors, high in the stands watching the match that would decide the middle school champions.
...well it wasn't exactly a match: it was more of a massacre. Satsuki wondered if Akashi had used the notes she submitted with her resignation forms (no need to throw away hard work, after all) to plan a strategy, but looking at the scoreboard, she sorely doubted they needed it.
Satsuki noticed Kuroko wasn't on the bench or on the court. Maybe he had gotten sick of them, too. Or, more likely, he had pushed himself to the brink of exhaustion: he always tried his best, disregarding his health.
Even though the Generation of Miracles was leading by more than a hundred points, the other team refused to give up. Satsuki admired that...and maybe that was why she couldn't help but nudge Acchan and Micchan (both of whom disapproved of coming to the match). "Ne...can you two help me cheer for them?"
Acchan craned her head to give Satsuki an incredulous look. "Teiko?"
"No, the other team," Satsuki whispered tremulously. "Everyone's cheering for us, but...doesn't the other team need it more?"
"If we cheer for them, the Teiko fans will run us over," Micchan deadpanned. Her expression softened, however. Micchan was kind underneath her prickly persona, after all. "We can give them something after the match. They might need it more, then."
"...ah, how cruel…" Acchan murmured, catching Satsuki's attention.
"Cruel?" she echoed.
"Can't you see it, Satsuki? Look at the scoreboard. You should know those boys better than I do."
The scoreboard was currently at 8-108...
...oh.
...they hadn't changed at all, huh.
"Hello, you're Meiko's small forward, right?" Satsuki asked, shuffling awkwardly. She already knew she was right, of course: Ogiwara Shigehiro, Meiko's ace. He had impressive statistics, but Satsuki already knew that he was no match for the Generation of Miracles.
The boy straightened, and Satsuki pretended not to notice how suspiciously watery his eyes were. "Who's asking?"
"I'm Momoi Satsuki, Teiko's...manager," Satsuki introduced herself, purposefully omitting the fact that she quit. Then, she surprised him by bowing deeply, thrusting out a can of juice as an offering. "I apologize on the behalf of my team! They shouldn't have taken this game lightly...or any game, for the matter. Basketball...isn't just a sport. It's our passion, and they shouldn't have disrespected you and trampled on the sport like that."
Ogiwara flushed, his shoulders straightening just the tiniest bit. "Momoi-san, there's no need to apologize. You aren't responsible for other people's actions…"
"Those people...are my friends, and I failed as both a manager and a friend to them," Satsuki refuted. Her shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry, Ogiwara-san…"
"It's fine, really," Ogiwara reassured her hastily when tears began to pool in her eyes. Boys were always weak against girls' tears, after all. Awkwardly, he dug into his bag and offered a handkerchief, but Satsuki waved off the offer tearily. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and pulling herself together. Satsuki would be strong.
"But…" Satsuki cleared her throat, her voice somewhat dry. Satsuki suddenly felt less brave than before, but she barreled on. "Well...you know, I admire you and your team very much."
"Us?" Ogiwara laughed bitterly, his voice brittle. His eyes held the same look that many did after facing her team...the one that Satsuki had ignored in the past, simply because losers amounted to nothing and winning was everything. "What's there to like about us?"
Satsuki tilted her head, locking eyes with him. Slowly, a smile curved on her lips. "Your basketball," she answered wistfully. Then, she gently reached forward to place the can of juice in his hands. "Nice meeting you, Ogiwara-san. Maybe we'll meet again."
Pivoting on her heel, Satsuki graced the speechless basketball player with one last sad smile before walking away.
"Hello, Kuroko Tetsuya speaking."
"...Kuroko?"
"...Ogiwara-kun?"
"..."
"Ogiwara-kun...I'm so sorry. I'm sorry...I didn't...they didn't have to do that...if I had been there…I'm sorry...this is all my fault..."
"...Kuroko...I'm going to be taking a break from basketball."
"...no, that can't be...not you, Ogiwara-kun...is this because of the match? You can't quit basketball! You love it!"
"...mm."
"...Ogiwara-kun?"
"...ahaha...it's just a break, Kuroko. Don't get your panties in a twist. I just need some time to...process things…"
"..."
"...you know, that manager of yours is amazing."
"...are you talking about Momoi-san?"
"Mm. If she didn't come to speak to me after the match...I would've spent more time brooding silently…but she reminded me of why I play. I realized that I was beginning to spiral downwards into...dark thoughts, but she pulled me out of them. Your team better appreciate her, Tsuya."
"...ah, yes...we will."
"Yeah, please give her my thanks."
"...I'll pass on the message...and...Ogiwara-kun?"
"Mm?"
"...I know this is selfish...but...can we still be friends?"
"What are you talking about, Kuroko Tetsuya? We'll always been friends, idiot. No game's gonna tear us apart."
"I heard he quit."
"Tet...Kuroko-kun? He'll be back soon," Satsuki said confidently, ignoring the exchanged looks between Acchan and Micchan. Feeling oddly defensive, she bristled and repeated herself, "He'll be fine, guys. Really."
"Satsuki," Micchan sighed.
"He'll...be fine."
"Sacchan…" Acchan took her hand gently. "Are you okay?"
Satsuki's face crumbled. "Truthfully? I'm not," she admitted, her voice wavering. "But...what am I supposed to do?"
"Momoi-san."
Acchan and Micchan immediately squealed in surprise, jumping ten feet in the air. "Where did you come from?" Micchan exclaimed, her voice high-pitched as she stared at a deadpan Kuroko Tetsuya with widened eyes. "Were you there this entire time?"
"No, I just arrived. May I speak with Momoi-san?"
Satsuki searched Kuroko's eyes, finding a small sliver of her friend. "Is something the matter, Tetsu-kun?" she asked, standing up and nodding in gratitude at her female friends, who left to give them some privacy. "Are you feeling better? I'm really sorry about the championship…"
Kuroko tilted his head, studying her. "There's nothing to be sorry about, Momoi-san."
"Right." Satsuki's laugh was brittle. "Winning is everything, after all."
"No...it's not that. It's just that there's nothing for you to be sorry for," Kuroko refuted, his words sending an electrifying shock down her spine. "In fact, I have to thank you…"
"Me?"
"Ogiwara-kun is my childhood friend," he explained slowly. "Thank you for cheering him up. He says 'thank you,' as well. He is...recovering."
A radiant smile stretched across her face. Satsuki clapped her hands together delightedly, squealing. "Ah, Ogiwara-san is your friend, Tetsu-kun? I had no idea! I'm glad he's feeling a bit better."
"Momoi-san."
"Mm?"
"I'll bring them back. I promise."
Satsuki's smile wavered. "Silly...don't make promises you can't keep, Tetsu-kun," she chided gently. Even though having her team back was all she wanted, Satsuki knew which dreams were futile and which were achievable. It would take nothing short of a miracle to return them to the state they were...and even so, they wouldn't be her team anymore. They'd be Kaijou's team, Seirin's team, Yousen's team-
"I will." Kuroko's gaze was firm. "Then, we'll all eat ice cream together again, as a team."
Satsuki paused, but was unable to refute Kuroko's assertion with such a steadfast gaze pinning her. Instead, she smiled. "Then...I may not be able to help you, but I'll cheer you on, Tetsu-kun. I'd...I'd like to do that again someday."
"So would I," Kuroko admitted quietly. They exchanged smiles, then turned around and walked their separate paths home.
psst I'm so glad ya'll appreciate and love my queen as much as I do (*winks at reviewers*)
Momoi really doesn't get enough attention from fanfic writers; as much as I love the m/m couples in KnB, I love the Momoi ships a lot too.
Thanks for reading!
