Chapter 4: Thy Faithful Doppelganger
"I assure you, that I, in no way whatsoever, harbour any romantic feelings towards Mr. Okita. I see him as a respectful teacher who does well for trying to teach a bunch of idio- I mean students, a new concept they are not familiar with," I finish quietly, as I flash the principal a not so sincere smile her way. But, being that she is quite gullible herself, she waves the matter off, saying that this little discussion would not go into my permanent records.
"I must say though, Hiyori-chan, you're grades have been doing exceptionally well so far."
Bowing my head in response, I thank her for her praise.
"Tell me, how the coaching job has been so far?" she asks, as she pulls out a folder to read.
"It's been going fine. The boys have been training and Momoi's been a great mana-"
"You see, it seems as though we are receiving a transfer student from…what school was- Oh, yes. A young, bright lady from Rakuzan High. It says here that she wishes to play on the basket-"
"With all due respect, I assume from her bold actions of wanting to play for Touou, that she is exceptional at the sport. But our team has already established a system that-"
"Systems can be altered with some proper adjustments, Hiyori-chan. With two girls already on the team, I don't think it would be such a problem if one more-"
"It's not a problem. I assume that Momoi would be fine with it. But I wouldn't account for the boys who do need to focus on the game itself rather than some young woman flocking around the court in barely any cloth-"
"Making assumptions like that could get you in trouble, Hiyori-chan."
Looking away from her gruelling gaze, I apologize half heartedly and once again she buys it.
"I am putting her on the team."
"But-"
"Just as easily I'm putting her in, I can as well take you out, Hiyori-chan. Please remember that."
Nodding my head, the principal dismisses me as she sends me out the door, calling in Aomine as I exit.
"What'd she say?" he asks almost in mock as he stops me from walking by him any further.
"Practice is after school today. Don't forget."
With that, I yank out of his reach as I angrily stomp down the hall.
My anger had nothing to do with the fact the team was being added with a new female addition. No, my anger subsided in the fact that I had let Aomine's childish antics get me into trouble. He was not to blame, really. It was more of my sudden crumble in will power that brought me into this grimy mess.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Now after school, I make my way towards the gymnasium where practice was being held. I didn't have much planned, really. Some running to start out with, a few warm-up drills and then a game to finish off.
But as I push open the door, I am not greeted with the usual silence upon my deathly presence, instead, I watch in half shock and annoyance as the boys all form a crowded, sloppy circle around something. Or, by the loud, girlish voice, someone.
Dropping my bag loudly by my side to grab their attention, it works. As if on command they immediately disperse. All but one boy in particular.
Advancing towards the idiot male, I prepare to sock him in the gut but luckily for him, the female quickly grabs his attention, saving him from days worth beating.
Crossing my arms sternly over my chest, I make no attempt to hide the fact that I was sizing her up. She as well mimics my form, staring me right in the eye as we are the same height.
Not only that, it's as if I'm staring at a sexier version of myself. Her skin was pale and smooth like mine, but she looked radiant, as if she were glowing with beauty and love. Her hair was long and fiery like mine, but she adorned her red mane loudly and proud as it engulfed the side of her face powerfully. As for me, I wore mine in a moderate, classy, womanly type pony tail down my back. Our eyes. There had to be no difference there. They were an ash gray. So deeply lost and unconcerned with its surroundings, yet so bright in the proper lighting.
As I stand across from her, I begin to mentally laugh at myself as I take note of her attire. Just as I had thought. Typical, typical, typical.
Her long, thin legs were barely covered with any clothing, wearing tight shorts that barely covered her rear. Her top consisted of a bright, pink tank top that hugged her curves undeniably in all the right places. Eyeing her chest, I make note that she is clearly not wearing a sports bra.
Sighing out loud, I place my hand in front of the woman, motioning for a handshake. But instead, she immediately wraps her slender arms around my torso, hugging me tightly as she giggles and squeals.
I find myself dying of her already annoying laugh.
Pulling away from her rather quickly, I'm about to ask her to introduce herself but she begins herself.
"My name is Tsukomoto Menma. I recently transferred from Rakuzan because they wouldn't allow a girl like me on the team. So I came here to hopefully play with all of you. Please don't think of me as a burden," she kindly speaks, as she bows her head respectfully down towards me.
"A hot burden," mumbles Aomine, as I watch a shy smile overcome Menma's face as the two lock eyes.
Staring at the two before me, I watch in annoyance as I am completely ignored by them, each of their bodies inching closer as Menma tosses her hair flirtatiously over her shoulder as Aomine inadvertently flexes his muscles.
Like two dogs in heat, I swear.
Suddenly, Momoi appears over my shoulder as she holds her clipboard tightly against her chest. I watch as she eyes the fresh meat before her, almost analyzing her like I had done so before.
"What do you think?"
"She is awfully pretty. But…her outfit isn't all that-"
"Great. So you'll be the one to tell her to go and change into some extra shorts then?"
"Wha-"
"Thanks, Momoi!"
As I pat the confused, flustered girl on the back, I walk towards the group of boys who stand awkwardly off to the side.
"Wakamatsu," I call out, as I begin to unpack my bag.
"What?"
"Do me a favour and give your shorts to Menma," I order, as I place my lucky, black whistle around my neck.
For a moment, there is silence as I don't hear Wakamatsu's footsteps.
"Waka-"
"Y-You want me to give her…my…shor-"
Throwing a nearby ball towards his face, his embarrassed look from before is replaced with anger and pain.
"What the hell was that for!?"
"For being you. Of course not your own, you sick man. Go fetch an extra pair!" I yell angrily.
Grumbling in response, Wakamatsu jogs lightly past me as I proceed to stand up and begin today's practice.
"She looks an awful like you, wouldn't you say, coach?" asks a perceptive Imayoshi from the side.
Ignoring his little remark, Sakurai hesitantly appears by my side as he struggles to form his words. "I…I still think that you're much…better looking than her," he chokes out in embarrassment as he holds a ball up to hide his flushed look.
Giving him a side long glance, I find myself growing suddenly giddy as I thank him with my head lost in my chest.
"Neh, is the coach blushing?" asks Imayoshi, his voice loud and authoritative on purpose, trying to catch everyone's attention.
He was clearly in the mood to make my life a living hell today.
Caught off guard I immediately stand up where I try to defend myself.
"I merely grew red at the fact that-"
"Sakurai, out of all the guys here, called you beautiful?"
All the boys and even Menma and Aomine stare at me quizzically, the boys laughing at my flustered form.
"H-Hey, so what if it came from Sakurai? I'd rather it come from him than any of you and- H-He did not call me b-beauti-"
"Easy, easy," coaxes Momoi as she places a comforting hand on my shoulder, leading me away from the unmerciful voices of the guys.
"I-I'm not-"
"You should smile more often, Hiyoko-chan. It really suits you," she encourages, as for the time being I ignore the fact that Momoi had referred to me by that insulting pet name I had received. For now, she has nothing but my thanks for saving me from those vultures.
"Say, let's get a game started, alright?"
Nodding my head in agreement, she leads us both back to the court with a protective hand on my back.
XxxxxxxxxxX
As practice has come to an end, I quickly gather up my belongings as my shift at the café begins in about 15 minutes.
Roughly placing everything into my bag, I fail to notice a shadow that is not mine hovering over me as I frantically pack.
"Hi coach!" chirps a cheerful voice from behind.
Taking in the high pitch, I immediately recognize it to be Menma.
"What?" I snap in irritancy.
"Since I don't really have friends right now and I don't really want to be seen hanging around with a bunch of guys, I was wondering if you wanted to come to my house? My parents are both away and it would just be the two of-"
"Go ask Momoi."
"Eh? Oh, I did. She says she has to go Seirin High for some business. But, I really did want to spend some time with you…and maybe I thought you could help me with my basket-"
Turning abruptly towards what would be my doppelganger, I look her dead in the eye as I find no remorse in what I'm about to say to her.
"I don't think you've noticed, but let me tell you straight. I don't have friends. I don't need friends. Nor do I have any desire whatsoever to become your friend. Let's keep our relationship strictly that of coach and player. Understood?"
As her eyes grow wide with hurt and shock, she nods her head softly as she looks down in embarrassment. Quickly brushing past her towards the exit, I stop in my tracks before leaving.
"One more thing. Come to my practice again in that attire then I will personally strip you, set your clothing on fire and make you practice nude. Understood?"
"Y-Yes!"
Kicking the door open, I run outside as I make my way towards the café, not giving our little conversation a second thought.
I meant what I said. Although I did manage to falter at times like in math class and during practice with boys like Sakurai, the only thing I could do was get back up and come back twice as hard. Anything to keep myself isolated and away from human contact.
XxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Hiyori, can you make me a parfait?"
"S-Sure-"
"How long has this rice omelette been sitting here?"
"About-"
"Hiyori, where is my-"
Growling out in annoyance I slam my fist angrily onto the kitchen counter as I glare at my sister, eyeing the smug look on her face as she crosses her arms daintily over her bust.
"My, my. Has the little princess finally cracked?" she purrs out, lightly chuckling as she laughs at my pathetic, flustered demeanour.
"I'll crack your skull open if you don't leave me alone, hag."
"Oh mana-"
Bolting towards my sister, I muffle her mouth while pinching and twisting the side of her ear as I physically torture her into not calling in the man I most definitely dreaded seeing when I came here.
"Ow, ow! If you do things like that then I'll personally go and grab him my-"
"Can you just keep quiet and attend to your clients," I plead.
As I turn my back towards my quiet sister, I focus on making the parfaits that needed to be made. Quite frankly, my sister was right. With the pressure of living up to my own expectations as coach of the team and working here in this busy, social friendly environment had begun to get to me. Not to mention that with each passing day, I found myself daydreaming about Aomine. And I hated that. It was beginning to get to the point where hours would pass into the night and I would glance down to find that none of my homework had been completed. I was slipping. Away from my morals and myself. I hated that. And why? All for some man who made me grow mad. Honestly, what was so good about Aomine anyways? Nothing. Look at the way he had been flirting with Menma today. It was as if I had never even existed. Well, I guess it was just like old times th-
"L-Look out, Hiyori!"
Dumbfounded and clearly unaware of my surroundings as my mind had once again been clouded with thoughts of Aomine, I fail to pay heed to my sister's cautious words as I look up just in time to find a large, steel pot come warping down towards my face.
Aomine's POV
Kicking open the boy's changing room door, I find Menma sitting up on the stage, her knees brought up to her chin as her head lays lost in her chest.
Smiling at the radiant sight of her, I drop my bag to the floor as it makes a loud thud, the vibration sent to her as she snaps her head up in shock.
Dribbling the ball a few times, I throw it in effortlessly with one hand as it flies into the basket above her.
"Show off," I hear her grumble, as she bounces off the stage, her shorts riding up as she takes her sweet time pulling them back down.
Yeah. She had to be the most desirable woman out there. The most desirable woman for me, that is.
"I could show ya' some other things if ya' like. But that would involve me taking off my-"
"Is the coach always like that?" she suddenly asks, as she totally brushes off all of my attempts at seducing her. Well, she was certainly happy to flirt before practice. Man, what a turnoff now to bring up the Devil itself.
"The coach, eh? Why'd you ask?"
I watch her carefully as she walks towards me, her strides long and powerful, yet broken and deformed in their own way. I swear her movements looked so familiar. But from where?
"I asked her to hang out but she said-"
Immediately I begin to laugh as I hold my sides, thinking of just the thought of this hot fire and that dry ice spending the day together. She'd probably be found dismembered at an off side road once Hiyori was done with her.
"S-Stop laughing!"
Bringing myself to a calm, I exhale tiredly as I brush a distressed hand through my uncombed hair.
"Look Menma, the coach isn't the type of girl who goes and does stuff without a reason. She won't hang out with you unless she at least benefits something from it. For you it's a chance of building a new friendship, for her, it's more of a task that needs to be done and get out of the way. A chore, really."
"You talk as if you know her," she asks smugly, as I watch her eyes narrow in almost jealousy as she places a firm hand on her hip, her rear sticking out as she does. I swear, this girl will be the end of me.
Grabbing her wrist, I pull her into my chest as I hug her back side. "Me and Hiyori? That's a disaster waiting to happen. It's fun to flirt with her and push her buttons, but I'd much rather be pushing yours…and maybe unbuttoning some of th-
Suddenly, Menma pushes away from me as she stretches her arm behind her back, as if nothing had just happened. Staring at her in confusion, I awkwardly sigh out as I find myself losing interest in the game at hand. Before too long, she'd become just like every other girl here. Fishing for attention, yet when given the moment just pushes it away.
Grabbing my bag that I had dropped earlier, I ask Menma if she wanted to grab a bite to eat.
Surprisingly enough, her face lights up as she grabs her own bag from the stage, grabbing my hand as she leads me out of the gym.
"I was thinking-"
"Oh please, isn't it the boy's job to ask the girl where she wants to go?"
Rolling my eyes at her stupid logic, I cave in and ask her where she wanted to go, reminding her that I had no intention of paying for her meal.
"There's this wonderful maid café a few blocks from here, I love it!" she chimes happily, as she lunges onto my arm tighter.
Looking down at her overly, confusing personality, I can't help but smile at the girl on my arm. But looking down at her red, wavy hair, an uneasy feeling makes it's way to my spine to the point where I have to shake her off of my arm.
What the hell was that?
XxxxxX
As she yanks me into the familiar café, I don't let on that I've been here before. That'd just be lame.
But, I couldn't have Hiyori yapping her mouth and making me lose my chances. So instead, I wait until we're seated before I tell her that I was going to the washroom.
But instead, I secretly look for Hiyori or her beautifully busted sister, but I can't find them anywhere in the lobby. Figuring it'd be okay, I slip into the kitchen where I watch behind some boxes as Hiyori finishes yelling at her sister. Jesus, does this girl treat anyone with any respect?
As I walk further into the kitchen, I look at Hiyori's back as she faces away from me, her long, flowing hair set free from it's tie. Now why did that look familiar? Wait, this reminds me of when Menma was on my arm and-
I have no time to finish my thought when a large pot slips off the edge, making it's way towards an unsuspecting Hiyori. I watch in shock as she stares at her sister with a stupid, deer in a headlight type of look. Damnit!
Sprinting towards her almost lifeless form, I hastily pull her into me as the pot clatters to the ground, along with a few other larger ones.
"Ya' weren't thinking of dying before leaving me without a kiss goodbye, now weren't you?" I ask dryly, as I grin down at her blank expression, holding her even tighter in my arms as I feel her begin to come back to reality.
As she quickly pushes away from me, I watch in amusement as her cheeks huff out and her stance becomes rigid with anger.
"As if I'd die with a few pots falling over- Hey! You are not supposed to be in the kitchen. Staff-"
"Hiyori, shut up. He just saved you. If I were you I'd be kissing his feet by now."
"I'm not sure that's the only thing you'd like to be kissing," I hear her murmur, as she looks away with a red, flustered look.
Smirking at her almost childish ways, I grab her arm once again and pull my maid into me, hugging her as I decide to play with her feelings.
"I guess Sakurai's not the only one that can make you blush, hm?"
Hiyori's POV
For now, I ignore his stupid remark. Instead, I find myself relishing in his warmth, his scent. How his skin finds some way to latch onto my bare, much paler form. As if we weren't supposed to separate. Well, I guess there were a few, noticeably good aspects that Aomine had to off-
"Aomine?" we all hear a quiet, innocent voice as the three of our heads' turn towards the kitchen entrance.
Upon finding the familiar girl's face, I look up at Aomine's face whose arms I was still in. Watching his eyes light up and that genuine smile overcome his lips, it's enough for me to push away and let my rare happiness subside.
What was she doing here? And more importantly, why was she out and about with this idiot when she specifically told me she had no intentions of hanging out with a boy due to her new student status.
Seems like this girl was letting on to be more of mystery than a nuisance.