Chapter 3 - A Part Of
Inori Tsurumi. Now that you have met her, I suppose it is too early for you to understand the way I see her. But I have my reasons and I shall reveal them through this very story. Because if I did tell you my reasons, would they matter?
I'm just one lonely dead person who doesn't exist to the world. So I'm aware of the value of my opinions. Do I come off as a pity seeking boring dude who can't get over the one thing that happened?
Good. Like I said, I'll accept anything. I'm not saying I have no stories to tell from my life. Any life can described in the right way can come off as interesting. It all depends on the color scale we choose. But no, I do not want to waste time painting a pretty portrait of me. I would rather spend it telling you this story with the girl named Inori. So that in the process, maybe you will come to see her the way I do. And I seem to have all of eternity to do just that.
"All that cake's gonna make you really fat and ugly."
His merciless statement shocked the girl he was meant to be escorting while the birthday girl thanked the elderly guests.
You see, there weren't many kids at the party. It had something to do with Momoi spending all of her time with a boy who played with guys twice his age or a girl who couldn't play a single game. The opportunity to make many friends was available but never picked by her.
Which meant that most of her guests consisted of elderly people her parents were aquainted with. Which meant that they would all be getting cake to carry home instead of simply eating it. The method of offering a complimentary piece of cake was definitely, obviously most disappointing to a certain blue haired guest.
"And then you won't have any friends to play with."
She turned to him with wide eyes this time and the look of fear was too overpowering.
"N..No. Sa-chan is very pretty but I'm sure she'll play with me even if I'm not as cute as her."
This is way too absurd to my liking but this is how it happened so this is what I can tell you. Not that I'm not furious of this boy's boyish attitude that makes a girl as Inori feel insecure.
"… and now I also have Aomine-kun for a friend!"
"I don't know about Satsuki but I would never be friends with an ugly person."
The declaration he made was all-binding to the girl who even at 11 was no match to the tan skinned basketball player she had just befriended.
"So let me have the cake if you want to be friends."
Tch. What a manipulative bastard to strike when the poor girl is at her lowest. To make use of vulnerability in this way – no honor in this boy I tell you! Not even a shred- believe it! (Naruto style).
"Aomine-kun… Do you like cake?"
"Yes!" he replied with bright eyes filled with anticipation. The devil child's eyes aren't dark, dead and hollow. They're bright and blue and warm but I still believe it is the place where dreams go to die.
Inori surrendered the plate in her hand into his and brought her now-empty hands together to clap.
"I love cake a lot but I love making friends even more. So I don't mind at all! We're friends now, aren't we?"
Of course her words meant nothing to him as he could only eye the delicacy in his hand and was lost to the rest of the world.
"Yes! We're friends now."
"Can I come see you play basketball with Sa-chan?"
"Sure!" he spoke and grinned to display a line of teeth that had chocolate all over them.
Still, he had said yes and given her permission. He had agreed to show her the best side of him.
Not that he knew the depth of it while saying so- people rarely ever know that when they say anything.
I wonder if he ever thinks of the light in her eyes when it happened.
The part when he became a part of Inori's whole life and tiny world.
Aomine strolled lazily through the hallways with no destination in mind. The footsteps behind him didn't alert him as they should have, even though he knew they came to seek him.
"Aomine-kun!"
And lo! Let the whole world behold! Satsuki Momoi's run!
Uh.. That one was out of line but hey, can ye blame me there?
I changed a bit of my accent there in hopes of making it clear that I become a different person in the presence of someone as visually appealing as Momoi.
I stay….. myself when its Inori. Is that weird?
I suppose yes. A person is only himself around a very few people.
"Aomine-kun! Come to the gym right now! The coach and the captain want to talk to the rest of the team and you have to be there. You haven't attended a single session of practice since the day you made it into the team. Nobody's even seen you play and you need to get to know your team b-"
"Satsuki.. Can you just shut your squealing? Its so annoying that it gives me a headache."
Her silence came as ordered and he turned away to continue walking.
"I'm on the team. I'm going to win them matches if I play. You'll come to get me when there's a match and I'll come if I feel like it. That's all there is to it."
There is no decisiveness in his eyes that could be taken up on by Momoi. Truthfully, she could drag him with her. But as reality stands, he doesn't waste time letting her see it and is quick to leave.
"… being a part of it and getting to know one another.. This is basketball and not a sorority- you remember that much don't you?"
He may not have realized it when it happened. But he does know a thing or two about being a part of something.
Because he no longer wants it.
His rejection is absolute.
A/N : Ah. So I'm beginning to feel not so lonely since last week. Really, I've been so convinced that there wouldn't be anyone reading that I think I skipped on a few things I should have explained.
In answering those who may have wondered but haven't voiced what they think of ghost dude, let me know your theory as to why he's a part of this story instead of a simple third person narrative.
Keep reading and reviewing, plis! :)
