Sorry for the long wait! _ I know it took longer than usual. I hope Kirimi is not acting weird in this chapter. I tried to make her react like a normal person would when she meets Akashi for the first time. Oops….slipped out. XD Yes, there will be Akashi in this chapter. Speaking of Akashi, I rewrote this chapter 5 times people! CUZ EVERY TIME I WROTE SOMETHING ABOUT HIM I FELT LIKE ERASING IT ALL AGAIN! Because it totally didn't fit his character! Man, writing about Akashi was harder than I thought. _ I hope I did Akashi in this chapter. I also hope that the reason he meets Kirimi makes sense. Gah!
Once again, thank you for all the lovely feedback! It encourages me so much! Have cookies!
Recap:
"You'll find out soon, you will. I just called because I wanted to hear my future girlfriend's voice," said the voice, and cut the phone.
"WHAT? Hello, hello? Who the heck are you? Hello?" shouted Kirimi.
But it was no use. The person had already cut the phone.
And in the space of 3 weeks, Kirimi had interacted with three of the MiraGen.
Kirimi just stared at her phone. She still couldn't believe what had happened. Had she really been cuddled by Kise just a few minutes back?(Why did that feel so….normal now?) It seemed so far long ago. Kirimi shook her head. She had to pull herself together. This phone call…this person who had called …was this what they called…a…a…stalker?
Kirimi gulped in fear. No, no, no. This can't be happening. Kirimi couldn't believe it. Why would anyone stalk her in the first place? She wasn't cute(at least she thought so), she wasn't an actress or a model, then why? Was it because of her family? But even thieves and crooks in the prefecture knew getting on the wrong side of the Ayasaki family would mean serious trouble!
Not to mention, her parents! She would have to tell them this! But if she did, they would never allow her to go out ever again! Alright, her safety is more important but still! No, Kirimi was NOT going to be locked in her house because of some damn stalker! She had finally realized what she wanted to do, her dream!
She slowly walked back to the Seirin Team.
Meanwhile, Kuroko and the others were currently seething at Kise for hugging Kirimi. Well…ok, Kuroko wasn't seething. In fact, if you didn't know him, he didn't look bothered at all. But actually, unknown to Kuroko, he was bothered by what he had seen. But he didn't know it. To Kuroko, It was just a small feeling. Something really tiny, since, this is Kuroko Tetsuya who only had basketball and vanilla milkshakes on his mind.
But somehow, Kagami noticed. He noticed that the phantom player was a little stiff. And of course, Kagami, being a person with only food and basketball on his mind, didn't say much. He simply thought Kuroko was tired from the match.
Only Riko, who had noticed Kirimi's blush when Kuroko had been injured, with her womanly instincts, felt something. But right now she was in the middle of berating Kise.
"I keep telling you," said Kise bawling. "Kirimicchi is my friend! I always hug my friends! Ne, Kurokocchi?"
Kuroko did not answer immediately. He answered a few seconds later than usual.
"Ah. Yes. Kise-kun is always like that," said Kuroko blankly.
"Yes, but still-" started an angry Riko.
"Everyone, I'm back," said a small voice suddenly.
Riko stopped in the middle of her sentence. Everyone looked at Kirimi.
"Ah, Kirimicchi you're back…what's wrong?" asked Kise worriedly, looking at Kirimi's face.
Kirimi, all this time, was staring at the ground. But now she looked up. She whispered something which no one heard.
"S-Say that again, Kirmi-chan?" said Riko. "I didn't hear you!"
"I…I think I have a stalker," said Kirimi barely above a whisper.
There was silence for one full minute.
Then, pandemonium arose.
"EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?" shouted Riko.
"W-W-WHAT?" asked Hyuuga, stammering.
The Kaijo members just stared in shock, some muttering among themselves.
Kise was beside himself. His face was overflowing with tears.
"Kirimicchiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! You're lying right? You have a stalker? Oh no! We have to call the police, no, Scotland Yard, no, the CBI!" said Kise hysterically.
"Kise, calm down! You're only making things worse!
While Kise's crying continued, the others rounded on Kirimi.
"What's with the sudden statement Kirimi-chan?" asked Riko.
"It was the phone call," said Kirimi, with a strange face.
"Huh?"
"Someone…called me on my cellphone. It was an unknown number. He said some really creepy stuff. Something about 'I am always right,' and 'future girlfriend'. Hehe…hehehe….hehehehe," said Kirimi, becoming a bit hysterical herself.
Kirimi was one who went into shock when faced with something really frightening. She would go into complete silence, then start to speak up and slowly start crying or expressing her fear.
"This is horrible!" shouted Kise. "Why would anyone target Kirmicchi? Oh what are we going to do?"
Kuroko cleared his throat loudly. Everyone looked at him. They had forgotten that he was there, even Kirimi!
"I think," said Kuroko, speaking louder than usual. "That we should all first calm down,"
Kuroko looked pointedly at Kise.
Kise pulled himself together.
"Secondly, I feel we should do things one step at a time," continued Kuroko. "At the very least, someone should accompany Kirimi-san home today to be safe. And Kirimi-san's parents must be informed. That is the best thing to do,"
Riko and the others stared at Kuroko with awe.
Kuroko had never spoken this much ever! At least, not while he was in Seirin. What's more, what he said made complete sense and it was much better than shouting and asking stupid questions.
Kirimi looked at Kuroko. He looked at her. He had a small reassuring smile on his face. Nobody except Kirimi could understand that smile. Kirimi blushed. Riko noticed.
"As expected of Kurokocchi!" said Kise in admiration. "So smart!"
"Alright then, Kuroko-kun," said Riko. "Who's going to accompany Kirimi-chan home today?"
"Me, me me!" said Kise, bouncing forward excitedly. "This is a great way for me to get close to Kirimicchi! I want to see her house! She's my new best friend after all!"
Kirimi temporarily forgot about her stalker problem when she looked at Kise with annoyance.
"I keep telling you, I'm not your best friend!"snapped Kirimi. "And stop looking at me with that stupid happy face!" she added.
"Kirimicchi is so adorably tsundere!" said Kise, eyes sparkling.
Kise was at it again. The last time he had felt like this was around Kuroko. But now his new interest was Kirimi. She was so adorable, cute, like a doll, just waiting to be cuddled! She was just like Kuroko!
Of course, the most important thing Kise liked about Kirimi, under all the pretence of doll and cuddle and cute and adorable was….her genuiness. She did not care about his looks…she looked at him as a person.
"I am not!" came the retort from Kirimi.
Kasamatsu sighed. Kise and his antics.
"A-hem," cut in Kagami. "I think Kuroko should be the one since he's the one closest to Kirimi,"
Kuroko blinked. He had just been staring into space but he was listening to the conversation. Kirimi seemed to be friends with Kise now…
"Kuroko!" called Kagami again.
"Ah," said Kuroko, coming back to earth. "A-Yes, I shall accompany Kirimi-san,"
"Hmmm?" said Riko thoughtfully.
Koganei looked at Riko.
"Coach, what is it?"
"Nothing," said Riko, grinning.
"Then, I guess we should all leave now," said Hyuuga. "Its getting late,"
"Ah, you're right," said Izuki. "We better get going, Coach,"
"E-Eh, ah, you're right!" said Riko, still thinking about Kuroko and Kirimi. "Let's go then!"
And after a few more exchanges and a very cuddly Kise and with a very annoyed Kirimi, Seirin left Kaijo.
"-kun….Kuroko-kun!"
Kuroko blinked again. This was happening a lot today.
"I apologize, Kirimi-san," said Kuroko. "For some reason, I feel a tiny bit weird today,"
They were walking to Kirimi's house. They had already said good bye to the other members of Seirin.
"I see," said Kirimi. "Anyway, I was saying about how annoying Kise-kun was to me today!"
So it was about Kise. The topic he wanted to stay away from for reasons he did not know. He didn't hate Kise nor did he dislike him…so why?
"He's really, really annoying, you know! How could he just suddenly cuddle me like that? I'm a young girl!" continued Kirimi.
"You probably shouldn't take it too seriously," said Kuroko. "Kise-kun is like that to all of his close friends,"
"But I'm not a close friend! We just met a few days back and have barely interacted! That's why I find it strange!"
He wanted this to stop really, but he didn't know why. But he answered Kirimi again.
"Kise-kun is usually like this to people he respects usually, Kirimi-san,"
Huh?
"Kise-kun respects me?" asked an astonished Kirimi. "But why?"
"That I do not know," said Kuroko.
Then he asked a question.
"What did you talk about to him while we were waiting?"
This was unusual of Kuroko. He never poked into things like that.
"Oh, that? Well, Kise-kun seemed really down because he lost and I just talked to him and started to tell him about myself because I had also felt like giving up in basketball before I met Kuroko-kun and I tried to cheer him up," said Kirimi.
Kuroko smiled a small smile. That was so like Kirimi to do.
"That explains it," said Kuroko.
Eh?
"What?" asked Kirimi.
"Explains why Kise-kun was um…overly attached to you," said Kuroko. "You made him cheer up and he gained respect for you,"
"What? That's it? But I always try and cheer people up when they're down. There was nothing special about the way I talked to Kise-kun!"
Silence for a few minutes.
"But you know," said Kirimi smiling softly. "He's actually deeper than I thought. He isn't just a happy go lucky idiot. He really does love basketball. That's why I didn't want him to quit. But he still annoys me!,"
As Kirimi finished her sentence, she felt a warm hand on her head.
Kuroko patted her head softly.
"You're too kind, Kirimi-san," said Kuroko.
Kirimi just stayed rooted to the spot trying to slow down her heartbeat. Really, curse you, damn pre-teen hormones! She hoped Kuroko wouldn't hear how fast her heart was thumping.
Fortunately he didn't.
"I really don't blame Kise-kun for wanting to cuddle you, Kirimi-san," said Kuroko suddenly.
"Ah," exclaimed Kirimi meekly.
W-W-What was with that? D-Did he want to c-cuddle her too? Cuddle? Really?
"I would want to be your friend too,"
Kirimi's excitement vanished with that statement. Ah…so he meant as friends…but at least he didn't hate her right?
"A-Ah," said Kirimi flustered. "L-Look, we're here! This is my house! W-ell, good night, Kuroko-kun!"
And with that, Kirimi literally ran to her house and slammed the door behind her leaving a bewildered Kuroko behind.
Was it something he said? He couldn't even remind her to inform her parents about the stalker.
Kirimi on the other hand had almost forgotten about the stalker, only thinking about Kuroko's interactions with her today. She had this dreamy expression on her face as she went home. She had her dinner and studied a bit and day dreamed of Kuroko. Ah, really, why did she love him? Or rather, DID she love him? That is, she was going through puberty right? At this age, people are emotionally unstable and fall in and out of love fast. It was just a stage…wasn't it? Kirimi had read all about it in a book. But still….
She had to stop getting so flustered. It was so unlike her. And it was annoying too….if she didn't stop it soon, Kuroko would think she's annoying! Kirimi, being the practical girl she was, still thought of these things as side effects when you had a crush on someone. And according to a study in a book, feelings for someone can only be considered love if the feelings last for more than five months. Ah, but Kirimi didn't want to wait that long!
She wanted to confess to him. But she was so inexperienced in love she didn't know HOW to confess or the courage to confess either. Kirimi rubbed her hair in frustration. Always, in her classroom, the girls talked about their crushes with smiles and laughter and they looked happy. But didn't they feel having a crush on someone was complicated? Was she the one in the wrong then?
After some daydreaming, Kirimi brushed her teeth and went to bed, not aware of the roller coaster ride she was going to go through the next day.
Ding Dong Ding Dong
That ring brought along recess. There was sound of furniture being pushed back as girls pushed their chairs away and got up, ready to enjoy recess. Kirimi got up as well. Hmm…she was a bit hungry. Perhaps she could get a chocolate bar from the cafeteria.
But before Kirimi could do the specific task of filling her stomach, she heard her name being called from the speakers in her classroom. Not only her, but four more girls as well. Those girls and here were supposed to come to the principal's office. She wondered why?
Soon, Kirimi and her classmates were in the principal's office. She wasn't in trouble was she? Had her classmates framed her for something?
"I have called you all here today to discuss an urgent matter which just came up," said the principal.
Kirimi looked at the principal with rapt attention.
"We have received a request from Rakuzan High School to send five of our best students to their school for a day," continued the principal.
"Rakuzan High School?" whispered one girl. "Isn't that that big school where all the elite students go?"
Rakuzan High….of course, Kirimi had heard of it.
It was an elite school for both boys and girls. They had even more prominence than Sakura Academy. Some girls from Kirimi's school went there when they graduated from middle school. But it was very tough to get seats in that school.
"As you know, Rakuzan High is a very prominent school," said the principal. "So it is very gracious of them to invite a few students to their school for a day. Apparently, they want to give you an experience of high school life in their school. You should consider yourselves very lucky for being chosen for this. This is a once in a lifetime chance and you should use it wisely. This is also good if you want to go to Rakuzan High for your higher education. All in all, use this chance well. And of course, do remember not to degrade the name of our school while you are there,"
For a minute, the girls were quiet, digesting what they had heard.
"If I may ask, Sensei, this is so sudden. Why now? Why not a week from now?" asked a girl.
"I understand how you feel. You feel you are not prepared for this and would like more time. But the Rakuzan Secretary insisted that you all had to come as early as possible,"
"Do we have to take anything with us?" asked a girl with orange hair.
"Just take your school bags with you. Make sure you have a good pen. Be on your best manners. You are representatives of our Academy,"
"When are we leaving?"
"Right now. When you all are ready, you shall leave. Hibino-sensei will be escorting you. Get ready,"
The girls were dismissed. They all returned to their respective classrooms. Most of the girls were in awe that they were going to Rakuzan High school. So was Kirimi, for that matter. Many times her parents had told her that for high school, they would like it if she went to Rakuzan. So going there today would make them happy. But she hoped that she would be finished before it was time to go to Seirin.
In less than five minutes, they were ready. Kirimi thought that they would have to use the subway to get to Rakuzan, but the school had sent their own bus. In a tiny corner of her of her mind, Kirimi wondered why Rakuzan was suddenly so interested in her school. But she pushed that thought away.
Meanwhile…
A red haired boy with heterochromic eyes was currently twiddling a pair of scissors in his hands in a rhythm but he was deep in thought.
Unexpected. That was the way to describe her.
She was an extraordinary chess piece which had suddenly popped up. A single flower blooming amidst the rocks. A candle which had suddenly started to shine brighter than the others.
Akashi was a person who knew it all. What had happened before, what was happening and what was going to happen in the future. So how had this wisp of a girl escaped his eyes? He was always right, he had never been wrong. So why had he not foreseen this predicament? What did she have that had made her escape from his eyes for so long? And what was she to Tetsuya? Akashi was curious…very curious.
Flashback:
Akashi could not believe that this had happened. Why? Just why? Everything had been going accordingly. Everything had been going just the way he had thought it would be. But…
But? There had never been a 'but' in his life. Still, it had happened.
"I quit, Akashi-kun,"
That sentence had been ringing in his ears ever since he had heard it.
Tetsuya had quit. Tetsuya had quit. Tetsuya….had quit the basketball team.
Why? He had asked him why.
"Because I hate the way we are playing basketball. It is not basketball anymore. I have come to hate basketball. It is best if I quit,"
Akashi just stood there. His face was expressionless. Tetsuya walked away from him and the team forever.
This was not supposed to happen. He had not expected this to happen. He believed that Testuya would not quit…it never crossed his mind. Why would Tetsuya want to leave? They had kept winning, as Akashi had always said they would till the very end. Nothing was wrong. None of the team members had been harsh to him. Akashi refused to believe that Tetsuya left only because of the reasons he had given him. And if they were the reasons, he wanted to understand why Tetsuya felt that way.
Akashi clenched the paper in his hand. He would find out why. Why he had been wrong. He would find out if it was the last thing he ever did. He was never wrong. He was not wrong. He had to prove that he was not wrong.
A month later:
It was a strange sight indeed. Seeing a grown man cower in front of a young boy, who was much shorter than him.
"A-Akashi-sama, forgive me," spluttered the Rakuzan secretary, almost in tears.
The said person, Akashi was currently holding a pair of scissors in his hand and pointing it at the secretary's right eye. It was so close to his eye that if the secretary even breathed deeply, his eyes would touch the sharp blade for sure.
"Forgive you?" asked Akashi, with an insane smile. "Masato, after all the time I have given you for your task, you fail to complete it, and you ask for forgiveness? Should I perhaps gouge out both of your eyes instead of only one?"
Masato trembled in total fear, his lips making unrecognizable sounds.
"P-Please, forgive me, A-Akashi-sama," cried Masato, the secretary. "I swear to you, I did the best I could, I dug up every bit of information I could find. If you would just listen to this last piece of information-"
"Well," said Akashi, his mismatched eyes pouring into Masato's own. "It wasn't enough was it, Masato? I don't think you need your eyes anymore,"
The scissors inched in one millimeter close.
"No!" screamed Masato. "No, Akashi-sama, please, listen to me! This last piece of information is important! It's about this girl-"
"I have no interest in girls, Masato,"
"But-"
Akashi was about to pierce his eyes when the breeze blew through the curtains and a passport sized photo was whisked away from Masato's desk and landed near Akashi's feet.
Akashi's was temporarily distracted from gouging out Masato's eyes. He glanced at the picture.
It was a mauve haired girl, with pale skin, with a headband in her hair.
"Masato,"
"Y-Yes, Akashi-sama?" squeaked Masato.
"Why was there a picture of a middle school girl on your desk?"
Masato shakily glanced at the picture himself. He had better answer Akashi. If Akashi got some insane notion that that picture was a picture of a model or from a magazine, and if he accused him of not doing his job and instead looking at a picture of a model or something like that , who knew what Akashi would do to him?
"T-That? T-That is a picture of a girl named Ayasaki Kirimi, the girl I was going to tell you about! S-She is part of the reason why Kuroko Tetsuya joined Seirin High."
Akashi raised an eyebrow. Ayasaki Kirimi? A girl who was responsible for Tetsuya joining Seirin High? It seemed far-fetched but at the same time sounded intriguing. Well, maybe he'd listen to Masato after all. Perhaps there was something interesting in what he had to say.
"Very well, I shall listen to you. Feel privileged, Masato,"
Well, thought Masato. He would be spared Akashi's rage as long as he kept talking.
"A-Ayasaki Kirimi. The only daughter of the famous Ayasaki doctors, known all around the area. Currently a first year in Sakura Academy's Sakura Middle School,"
The next sentence made Akashi lose his composure even more.
"She is currently Kuroko Tetsuya's coach,"
Akashi's eyes hands shook slightly. What?
"What?" hissed Akashi. "What? Say that again, Masato,"
Masato gulped.
"Sh-She is currently Kuroko Tetsuya's coach for his basketball training,"
Akashi's grip on the scissors loosened very slightly. Coach? This girl was Tetsuya's coach? Coach for what? Why would he need a coach? Tetsuya has a coach….he has a coach. He was still playing basketball. A girl was helping him. A middle school girl…Tetsuya had abandoned them all and then sought this middle school girl? It was unlike Tetsuya. He would never do such a thing. What was going on? He thought that Tetsuya was the only mystery he couldn't understand but now this girl was in the picture as well?
"What?" repeated Akashi."How? When? Why? How and when and why did she become his coach? "
Masato gulped.
"A-According to my sources, she met Kuroko Tetsuya sometime after he played his last match in Teikou Gakuen. Most probably twenty –fifty minutes after the match. My sources were not there when it happened but it definitely happened on t-that day because the next day Kuroko Tetsuya was seen in Seirin High School applying for a seat in the school and he was accompanied by a mauve haired girl. It is definitely Ayasaki Kirimi,"
"Go on," said Akashi.
"As I said, m-my sources were not there on the day of the match but on the first day of high school for Kuroko Tetsuya, they heard that Ayasaki Kirimi introduce herself as Kuroko Tetsuya's coach in their basketball club,"
"Did it ever occur to you…," said Akashi, "….that she may have been joking?"
"No, Akashi-sama," said Masato, slowly regaining life. "She is definitely his coach for helping him in his matches with Seirin High one way or another as she was present in the practice match between Seirin High and Kaijou High,"
Akashi could not conceal his feelings. They were a mixture of shock, excitement and anger. To Masato, Akashi resembled a very notorious serial killer with that sickening smile.
"S-She was the one who devised co-ordination play between Kagami Taiga and Kuroko Tetsuya which eventually led to Kaijou's defeat in the practice match. That is the most recent data I have of her. I feel that she is worth looking into if you want to find out why Kuroko Tetsuya quit the basketball club, Akashi-sama,"
Why would a girl do this? More like, why would a middle school girl, a rich girl from a family of doctors suddenly help Tetsuya with his basketball out of the blue? And why would Tetsuya accept her? Why did he of all people need a coach? His misdirection was something that only he had. No one except Akashi could train him with his technique…or so he thought. Once again, he was wrong apparently.
"Anything else?" asked Akashi after a moment of silence.
"Yes! There is one more thing! In Sakura Elementary she was an expert basketball player in her team. But, this is not known much because of Sakura Elementary not focusing too much on sports. She does not play in Sakura Middle, due to the fact that in her last match in Sakura Elementary, a ball hit her hand and injured itmaking it useless for basketball,"
An injury. Well, at least that explained why she did not play in Sakura Middle. Not that it would matter if it did. Sakura Academy did not take sports into much account. It was just seen like play time. So this girl loved sports more than the average student in Sakura Academy. And apparently she was a good player. Is that why she was supposed to be Tetsuya's coach? But was she so good? If she was so interested in sports, why not apply for a school concentrating on girls' basketball? Surely, she could apply as a coach or manager in that school. Why choose Tetsuya? Many things did not make sense. But Akashi was going to make sure that things DID make sense.
Akashi pulled the scissors away from Masato's face.
"Very well," said Akashi. "Listening to you in the end was worth it after all. You are spared, Masato. Now, I have a new job for you,"
Masato gulped. What was it now?
"You say she goes to Sakura Middle? I want you to call the Principal of Sakura Middle and ask her to send the school's top five students to Rakuzan. Tell them it is a chance for her students to experience life at Rakuzan High"
"W-What? I-I do not understand Akashi-sama. How do you know that the girl will be in the top 5?"
Akashi stared at Masato.
"Because, Masato, I am always right,"
"B-But Akashi-sama, asking them to come tomorrow…on such short notice-" started Masato.
"I want to see that girl as soon as possible," said Akashi. "You will do it, Masato, or else. These are my orders,"
"Y-Yes, Akashi-sama," cowered Masato.
He wanted to solve the mystery surrounding Tetsuya's quitting from the team but while solving that, a new mystery had popped up.
Ayasaki Kirimi, thought Akashi as he walked away from Masato's office. I will find out who you are and figure out all of the mysteries surrounding you.
End of flashback
"Alright, girls, we're going to reach Rakuzan High," said Hibino-sense. "Please do be on your best behavior, and make our school proud,"
"Yes!" replied all the girls.
Kirimi brushed imaginary dirt off her skirt. Ok, it was time. All the hard work she has put into her studies was going to be tested now. At least, she thinks so? Sure, Rakuzan had invited them to experience a day in their school, but they might ask some questions and expect polite but smart answers. And if she wanted to get into Rakuzan for her higher education, this was her chance. Her parents wanted her to go to Sakura High for her higher education but they would still be mad at her if she messed up in a prestigious school like Rakuzan. She'd get lectures about bringing shame to the Ayasaki name. Kirimi sighed. She did not want to go through one of those lectures again.
The bus stopped and the girls from Sakura Middle and Hibino-sensei stepped out. The girls looked at the school with awe.
"Waaahhh!" said one, starstruck. "It's every high schooler's dream!
"Look at the size of it! Its gigantic!"
"Ohhhh if I get a seat here, I won't eat my favorite cake for a year!"
"Girls!" shushed Hibino-sensei. "Stop acting like little children. Act with dignity and poise. You won't get a seat in this school if you all gape like idiots!"
The girls hushed down at once.
"Now stay in line," said Hibino-sensei. "And follow my lead,"
Being the prestigious school Rakuzan was, Kirimi was not surprised when she found her teacher speaking through an intercom near the front gates of the school.
"Good afternoon. I am Hibino Kosaki, a teacher from Sakura Academy's Sakura Middle. I am here to represent our five top students. We received a call earlier where you had graciously invited our students to your school which we are most grateful for. Once again, I, Hibino Kosaki am here with the students from Sakura Middle,"
There was silence for a few seconds. Then…
"Good afternoon, students and teacher from Sakura Middle. Thank you for accepting our invitation. A student will you very shortly,"
True to that sentence, soon, a female student from Rakuzan greeted them and the group from Sakura Middle all went inside the main building of the school. It was a lot of hard work for the girls to retrain themselves from squealing and gasping at every wonderful thing they saw. Of course, Kirimi was the same. She had never been inside such a grand school.
Throughout the afternoon, Kirimi and the girls went from classes to classes, attended a few lessons, were asked a few questions and were treated well by the Rakuzan faculty. One even dropped a line saying that she would love if they came to Rakuzan for their high school education.
Overall, a perfectly good day, thought Kirimi.
But then she got a bit worried. Hadn't it been a little TOO perfect? Like, nothing had gone wrong? Things didn't work that way in her life. In her life, there would be ups and downs. Ok, that happened in everyone's life. Still…
Was this where something really bad was going to happen?
Kirimi shook her head. Really, she had to stop being so pessimistic. This was just a wonderful day.
Soon, it was time to go home. The girls had enjoyed their stay at Rakuzan High and they had kept the name of their school in good grace. All was well. Well, maybe not for Kirimi.
As Kirimi was walking back to where her teacher was, she heard her name being called.
"-saki-san! Ayasaki-san!" called a girl from behind her.
Kirimi stopped and looked at the girl.
"Yes, can I help you?" asked Kirimi.
"Ah, our student council leader said he would like a talk with you. Something regarding Sakura Middle's future prospects. He's in Room 305," said the girl smiling.
"Oh, is that so?" asked Kirimi, surprised. "I'll go right away then. Thank you so much for telling me!"
Kirimir changed the direction in which she was going and started to search for Room 305. She tried searching for awhile, but no avail. It was really a big school with so many rooms. Finally, she saw Room 302.
303….304…305. 305! Room 305! She found it at last!
Kirimi sighed thankfully and then knocked on the door. No answer. She knocked again. Same response. Time was passing. Kirimi decided to go in.
"Excuse me," said Kirimi. "I'm coming in. I knocked but no one answered,"
Kirimi stepped in. She looked around. He wasn't there. Hmmm….perhaps the Student Council Leader had stepped out for something?
"Well, I might as well wait," thought Kirimi, sitting on a nearby chair.
Kirimi was excited. Why did the leader want to see her? Had she impressed them? Maybe it would help her get into Rakuzan High? Her parents had always talked about Sakura High but they wouldn't exactly mind Rakuzan High. Or did he want to see her because she had made a fool of herself? But she had made sure she hadn't…it couldn't be that….could it? Kirimi was curious.
Soon Kirimi heard the sound of a door opening and she looked up. She saw a boy come in. So he was the leader.
"Ah, I'm sorry!" said Kirimi to the boy. "I thought there was no one in the room so I came in,"
No response. The boy was doing something but Kirimi didn't know what. Kirimi spoke again. Perhaps the boy had not heard her.
"I'm of the students from Sakura Middle who came to your school today. I was told that the Student Leader wanted to see me so…" trailed Kirimi.
Still, the boy did not answer. Kirimi was slightly confused. Could he not hear her?
"A-Anyway I'm waiting for him and-why are you locking the door?" asked Kirimi suddenly.
Because Kirimi had heard a clicking noise which was the sound you heard when someone locked a door.
"U-Um, like I said, I'm waiting for the-"
But before Kirimi finished her sentence, the boy had turned towards her. Kirimi did a double take. The boy had heterochromic eyes. He opened his mouth and spoke.
"We meet at last, Ayasaki Kirimi," said the boy, speaking for the first time. His voice…it was sort of…different from normal voices.
"U-Um, are you the student leader?" asked Kirimi, unsurely. "And could you please unlock the door? I really don't see why you have to do-"
"I will lock the door," said the boy staring at her. "Because I have a few things to discuss with you,"
What did locking the door have to do with that?
"U-Um, if you want to discuss something with me about my school, you can do so in any other classroom, without locking the door you know," said Kirimi, trying to see sense.
What was this about? Was it about her talk today? Had she done badly? Had she embarrassed her school?
Akashi brushed his hair with his hands. Then he looked at Kirimi.
"Yes, I know that, Kirimi. But what I want to discuss is not your school," said the boy.
Kirimi cocked her head to one side. She was so absorbed in finding out what this mysterious, weird boy wanted from her that she did not notice the use of her first name.
"Then what do you want to talk about?" asked Kirimi, confusedly.
The answer came the second Kirimi finished speaking.
"About you and Kuroko Tetsuya,"
Kirimi's eyes widened, taken aback. W-Wha-? Where did that come from?
"About Kuroko-kun? What are you to him? And me? What about me? " asked Kirimi.
"Tetsuya never told you? Well, then, let me introduce myself. I am Akashi Seijuuro, ex-captain of Teiko Middle's basketball team and ex-captain of the Generation of Miracles," announced the boy.
"Akashi…Seijuuro? Captain of the MiraGen?" thought Kirimi.
He was a basketball player? He didn't look like one. But anyway, what did the captain of the MiraGen want with her?
"And what can I do for you, Akashi-san?" asked Kirimi, still confused.
Was there something to tell Kuroko-kun? Kirimi couldn't think of anything else.
Akashi started circling around the chair she was sitting on. Kirimi sort of felt like a person being questioned for a crime.
"You will tell me why, when and how you became Tetsuya's coach after you quit your basketball team in Sakura Elementary due to your injury," said Akashi.
Well, thought Kirimi. He could still have just asked her in public. No need to lock her in a room with him right?
"Er…well, I-wait!" said Kirimi suddenly, gasping. "How did you know about my injury in Sakura Elementary?"
Very few people knew that! How had this guy come to know? The school had made sure to keep that information private to protect the school name!
"One thing you should know about me, Kirimi. I am always right and I know everything," said Akashi, looking straight into her eyes.
That's two things, thought Kirimi warily. This guy had a slight kink in his head, maybe. Ah well, the faster she can finish this conversation, the happier she'd be so she better answer him.
"Uh…well," started Kirimi. "I met Kuroko-kun during one of your matches when you were in middle school,"
So Masato was right, thought Akashi.
"And?" said Akashi.
Kirimi blinked at him confusedly.
"You still have not told me how and why you became Tetsuya's coach," said Akashi, smiling but somehow that smile did not look very pleasant.
"U-Um, er….well, how I became his coach? Well, er, it…just…happened, I guess," said Kirimi, a bit confused about that herself.
Akashi's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean by 'it just happened'?" asked Akashi, raising his voice a little.
"U-Um, well, we met and Kuroko-kun talked to me and shared a few things with me and I shared a few things about my life with him and-"
But all of a sudden Kirimi stopped.
Akashi blinked.
"Why did you stop? Continue," ordered Akashi.
Wait. She wasn't supposed to say more than that. After all, it was her and Kuroko's secret. But something else occurred to Kirimi with a pang. Why hadn't she realized it before? She was currently talking to the person whom Kuroko-kun had left. This boy was one of the people who made Kuroko hate basketball. That meant that the conversation that she and Kuroko had had that day was probably not meant for any of the other MiraGen to hear, in other words, this guy in front of her. What if he wanted to use this information against him? From the way Kuroko had talked about his Teiko teammates, it seemed like-
"Well?" he asked. "Tell me more! Why did you stop?"
"I'm sorry," said Kirimi solemnly. "But what happened after that is private between me and Kuroko-kun. I do not think that Kuroko-kun would be happy with me if I disclosed that information to you,"
Akashi put his head down. Silence for one minute.
Then a small chuckle. A small mad chuckle.
Well, that was that, then. She had told him she couldn't say anymore. She might as well leave now. But as she was about to get up from her chair, when she felt the air around her going cold.
"What did you say, Ayasaki Kirimi?"
Kirimi's eye twitched.
"I-I can't discuss this topic any further. I'm sure you understand. Kuroko-kun wouldn't like it if I told you things like that. It was a private conversation, you know?"
Kirimi didn't realize how foolish she was being.
When Akashi looked up at Kirimi again, Kirimi gasped when she saw his expression. He had the look of a murderer.
"A-Akashi-san?" asked Kirimi. "A-Are you ok?"
Akashi smirked at Kirimi.
"You're going to regret what you said to me, Ayasaki Kirimi," he said, his eyes bulging.
H-Huh?
"What are you-" started Kirimi.
FLASH!
All of a sudden, out of nowhere, a pair of scissors appeared in Akashi's right hand.
It's just a pair of scissors, thought Kirimi. Why am I getting so freaked out?
Why was the air getting colder?
Kirimi wanted to move but for some reason, she felt glued to her chair.
"D-Did I say something wrong?" asked Kirimi, panic starting to set in. She wanted to run away. Why….why was the door locked?!
If this was as she had expected, and he had really wanted information out of her to use against Kuroko, then she might disappoint Akashi. But she did not think that he would…he would…w-why were those scissors coming closer to her face?!
Akashi had known that this would happen. He knew that-
"-that you would refuse to tell me about Tetsuya," said Akashi, now in front of her.
He brought his scissors dangerously close to the bangs on her forehead.
"From the moment I laid my eyes on you, I knew you were…shall we say…a strange girl? A normal girl would have just told me what Tetsuya had told her and then be done with it,"
He fingered her silky hair with his left hand.
Kirimi's legs started trembling. What was going on? Who was this guy? Wasn't he the school leader? Why was he…why did it almost look as if he was going to threaten her? What was the information that he wanted so badly about Kuroko-kun? What was he about to do to her?
"But, Tetsuya wouldn't choose a normal girl as his coach would he? I reached that conclusion, Ayasaki Kirimi. Why? Because, like I said, I know everything. Rather, I DID know everything. What I don't know, even now, is why Tetsuya left Teikou…why he left me. I was set on finding out why…and then you came into the picture; a mere wisp of a girl who is apparently Tetsuya's coach now in Seirin High. And I once again reached the conclusion that knowing more about why Tetsuya left Teikou would be known to you. I have tried my level best and I still haven't found out. Do you understand Kirimi? I am absolute. I am always right. I know everything. I MUST know everything. So not knowing why Tetsuya left Teikou is not right. So, like a good little girl, you will TELL ME everything has told you. Understand?" said Akashi with a voice that made Kirimi's heart beat faster than it had ever done in her whole life.
But something occurred to her. Where were her classmates? Her teachers? Why were they not here yet? Surely they'd have noticed that she had been missing for a long time? And surely someone had heard her shriek and shout outside?
"The room is soundproof and I made sure to tell your teachers that I would be talking to you for two hours," said Akashi, as if he knew what she was thinking.
Why? Why was it like this? Hadn't this been the perfect day? How had it come to a boy from Rakuzan threatening her with a pair of scissors? Too much information…..too close…too scary. Kirimi was close to fainting from fright. Well, she would be spared as long as she kept talking.
"Why do you want to know this so much? And why are you going to the lengths of threatening me?" asked Kirimi, her lips shaking.
"This is your last chance. Tell me about Tetsuya," said Akashi, his left eye glinting maliciously, not answering her question.
Tetsuya. Kuroko. Kuroko Tetsuya. Kuroko-kun. Kuroko-kun! That word brought Kirimi out of her paranoid state.
Kirimi took a deep breath.
"I already told you," said Kirimi boldly. "That I won't tell you because its between Kuroko-kun and me" said Kirimi.
"And I don't think its nice of you to probe into other people's affairs," said Kirimi after an afterthought.
So what if the guy looked like he was half mad? So what if she was currently in a locked room? She had to keep Kuroko-kun's information confidential. It was between Kuroko and her. This guy had no right to do this.
Kirimi looked at him straight in the eye.
"I will not tell you," said Kirimi glaring at him. "I don't know what you're planning on doing to me but I'm not going to betray Kuroko-kun; no matter what!"
She continued glaring at him after she finished her sentence. She waited.
His face was the same but his eyes were blazing with fury for a few seconds and the next thing she knew….was that…amusement in his eyes? But the amusement vanished almost immediately and she felt the scissors closing in on her forehead.
Kirimi couldn't help it. She closed her eyes in fear. Even after all she had said, she had still been afraid after all.
Snip…
Kirimi felt a tiny part of her bangs being cut off by scissors.
The next thing she knew, she heard him laughing. No, not the insane laugh she had heard earlier. This was full of amusement and wonder…like that of a child? What?
Kirimi dared to open one of her eyes.
There was the blooming psychopath who had nearly made her hair turn white due to fright laughing his head off as if he had just seen a Saturday night comedy show.
"W-Wha-?" said Kirimi, totally lost once again. "W-Why are you laughing all of a sudden?"
This boy just kept getting weirder and weirder. One minute he looked like he was going to kill her and the next minute he's laughing?
Kirimi touched her forehead. A small part of her hair had been cut with his scissors. What was up with that?
"You really are something, Ayasaki Kirimi," said Akashi, in between laughs. "You are the first person who dared to disobey me,"
"D-Disobey?" asked Kirimi, still confused.
Akashi's laughter gradually stopped. But he was still smiling? Was that a smile?
"From my first kindergarten teacher to Rakuzan's secretary, I always got what I wanted and no one ever dared to do anything which I did not approve of. But you…" said Akashi. "…you are a rare species indeed,"
"Species?" said Kirimi weakly, not understanding anything he was saying.
"Ayasaki Kirimi, feel honored," said Akashi, smugly. "I have decided to spare you,"
T-That means she was going to be ok?
"B-But," said Kirimi stammering. "Y-You…just…just a minute back you wanted information and…"
"True," said Akashi. "But if I killed you, what would I gain? I still wouldn't have found my information about Tetsuya from you. It would have been a lost cause,"
K-Kill? KILL? KILL? He wanted to KILL her just a minute back? KILL? For just a piece of information? Not torture? He'd go so far as KILLING her?
Kirimi's face turned white with fear again.
"But fear not, Kirimi," said Akashi. "I have decided that you are too interesting to kill. I shall get my information from you with other methods. My usual method which always works failed on you. Once again, you surprised me with that. Usually, whenever a person sees my face, my eyes and hears my voice, they always listen to my commands,"
D-Did that mean that he h-had other methods of t-torture?!
Akashi pointed at Kirimi.
"I have decided," announced Akashi. "That I shall get to know better and become acquainted with you and slowly unravel the mysteries surrounding you,"
"H-Hah?" was all that Kirimi could manage to say.
This had to some kind of weird nightmare right?
Suddenly, Akashi looked at his watch.
"Oh, look at the time. Its time for you to leave our school," said Akashi. "Come, Kirimi, I shall escort you to your teachers,"
He unlocked the door.
Kirimi bolted up. It was open. The door. It was open! SHE COULD ESCAPE AT LAST! Escape before he changed his mind again!
"NO!" she shrieked. "No! I am not coming near you! Stay away from me! Your creep! Psycho! Mad hatter! Let me out of here!"
And with that Kirimi ran from Akashi with the speed of lightning. She ran. She kept running and running.
Escort? Escort? He wanted to escort her? What in Merlin's name had happened today? There's this random guy who's supposed to be the student leader, Kirimi goes to have a talk with him, he treats her like a prisoner being questioned, threatens her, wants to KILL her, and then suddenly he's all smiles?
What was up with that? WHO was that maniac? Kirimi was full of questions. But she knew one thing. She did not ever want to see that guy again. He could be the president of Japan for all she cared, but he was too much of a weirdo to mess with. Until that guy was away from Rakuzan High School, Kirimi would never visit the school again, lest once again she would be threatened and driven out of her mind by that psycho of a student leader.
I apologize if I made Akashi seem gay for Kuroko. Well, in this story, he's not. Sorry AkaKuro fans.
Please tell me if I did this chapter justice. Akashi was so hard to write about. He's such a complex character and I know so little about him so it was hard. Ok, enough of my complaining! Remember to review and fave if you liked it! Ja~ And about the phone call thing? Nyuhuhuhuhu~ I'm not revealing who it was just yet. You guys thought it was Akashi? Ok, ok, so I made it sound like him, but maybe it is, maybe it isn't? :D Stay tuned to find out!
