[A/N]: Thank you for all the reviews, and for LoveSeasons, Rizuki Dhan and GreenEyedTrickster for adding this to the story subscription list! Lili, I feel your pain… When I wrote the last chapter I got really weepy with all the drama and sad things happening in Misaki's past. She experienced a lot of awful things in second year, so she feels very painful about Aomine and her brother essentially. It was kind of the hardest bit of her life in middle school.
Sorry if the language used here is a bit too formal or fancy, because sometimes I find myself using the same words over and over again… The high school basketball circuit and the competitions will be much more important in this chapter. Please read and review!
X
"Go down and start doing 100 push-ups! And make it snappy! If I catch you slacking off you're gonna have to do another 20 push-ups and no break!" The manager of the Rakuzan basketball team was supervising the first stringers, whom she had been instructed to take attention of. Misaki wasn't exactly thrilled when Kantoku told her to focus on the first string only, but she did admit, it was part of his job to tell her so. Rakuzan depended a lot on those players to win for the school. Basically, they were much more important and well-trained than the others, and the second and third string were hence blatantly ignored a lot. But Misaki just gritted her teeth and did it.
While overseeing the first string's training and their welfare, she also had to gather data about the other schools, organising practice matches occasionally and managing the budget of the team. Being the manager required skill in taking care of the players' welfare and ability to play in matches, not so much skill in playing or observing basketball. That was the kantoku's job to do. At least in middle school she had picked up some tips from Satsuki, so Misaki wasn't completely lost, or befuddled with the money and details. But still she began reading more into Rakuzan's own regular players too, as Kantoku had handed her a booklet of information and asked her to study it carefully, so she could make good decisions during actual matches. After all, in Rakuzan, students took charge of their own clubs more so than the adults or coaches.
The players playing as the starting line-up or almost all the time in matches – these were the ones who usually played in matches and were the cream of the crop in the high school basketball circuit.
Second Year. Hayama Kotaro. Ah. The name did sound very familiar. Misaki examined the photo beside the name. It was the vampire-like blonde with a spiky tooth hanging out of his mouth, who was a Power Forward. Kantoku had written in almost illegible handwriting that he was an Unclaimed… Uncrowned King, huh? That title sounded way too familiar, again. She furrowed her brows and continued reading on about his history in basketball playing – as expected, super long stretching all the way back to elementary – and his vital statistics before flipping the page and going on to the others. Two others were second-years, and they were both Uncrowned Kings as well.
That was odd. Why would a first-class team like Rakuzan be mainly composed of second-years? Usually the senior third-years had the most experience and talent, so they were the main players. There must be something about that title that made them all so strong. After all, all of them had excellent physique and had lots of experience. Misaki smiled grimly. It reminded her of a group of annoyingly endearing eccentric basketball players in Teikou. She highlighted that title in the booklet, drew a star beside it before moving on to the details.
It seemed like the Uncrowned Kings in Rakuzan had been from middle schools which excelled in basketball. They were from different schools, yet shared the same common title. That was a little different from the people she knew. That confused Misaki even further, but she bookmarked the page with Hayama and kept ploughing through. Misaki read through Akashi's without much interest, as she already knew his background and all. But her interest was piqued again when she found that the last starter was someone she had never seen in the club before. The sole third year. Mayuzumi Chihiro, he was named. With an expressionless face and seemingly hollow silver-greyish eyes. Misaki scratched her head, puzzled again. That name sounded completely unfamiliar to her. She was pretty sure she had never seen or met him before.
Misaki peered at his history curiously. This was his first year as a starter, and since he was the oldest already among his fellow regulars, he should be really humble, and he should have worked very hard to fight for a spot in the team. That reminded her curiously of a certain pale and small-sized bluenette… Misaki frowned. Mayuzumi Chihiro also had a rather weak presence, just like him. She scanned the row of first stringers for some time, then finally spotted a boy with a face identical to that in the picture. He was struggling slightly with the push-ups that the others were able to do with a little effort and much complaining, lagging behind a little and panting.
But still Mayuzumi didn't complain a single bit, his mouth opening only to pant. Still, if he wasn't so exhausted, Misaki would probably have taken a much longer time to notice him, or not even have at all. That weak body of his also reminded her of Tetsu's fragile physique and his inability to keep up with the others, no matter what he did to improve. And if he was finally placed into the team this year, was there a particular reason for doing so? Misaki studied some of the handwritten notes Kantoku had thoughtfully penned down beside his profile, still struggling to read them. Physically weak but reliable, basic support of team. Aha. That could be used to describe Tetsu exactly. But why did Rakuzan have such a shadow? The idea of Tetsu using his weak presence had sprung from Akashi's mind, and how did Rakuzan have the same…
Misaki got it, and her eyes widened. So this Mayuzumi Chihiro was Akashi's work, probably. If not, how could Rakuzan accept such a person? She glanced at the redhead busy doing warm-ups, and he somehow changed the serious expression to something else. A smile? No, Akashi Seijuurou wouldn't smile that easily. She couldn't tell what, but he had guessed accurately what she was thinking about, observing her looking at Mayuzumi. That confirmed it. But how… how did Akashi manage to help Mayuzumi so easily within such a short span of time?
Since Akashi-kun sits with me for lunch every day, I'm going to ask him as soon as possible.
That confused her further, so Misaki snapped out of her thoughts and started looking at her notes on the other first stringers, going through each player's profile carefully. They were all excellent players, and all of them had previous experience in playing basketball. Furthermore, 100% of their careers stretched way back to elementary school as well. Yet in Rakuzan they were benchwarmers, when in any other school they would definitely be in the starting line-up. Misaki looked at their hopeful faces in the photos filled with passion and happiness, and felt a pang.
She really felt them.
In the past, the Teikou second string was always inferior to first string, no matter their achievements in second-string matches, no matter their attitude, no matter what they had done for Teikou. Since the first string already had the Generation of Miracles and their talents, it was practically impossible to get into the first string since they had superbly talented players already. They didn't need anybody else, and even the other first stringers were thought as obsolete. That frustrated one of her teammates in first string so much that he quit the team, but still cried about it afterwards. He loved basketball so much, but he had to give it up. Just because he thought he couldn't contribute to the team, and was always on the bench, only managing to watch, and do nothing else.
And Misaki could sense that if Akashi and the Crownless Generals kept dominating the first string starting line-up, some of these originally inspired hardworking players would grow discouraged and resign, making their talent go to waste. Rakuzan was growing way too similar to Teikou's first string, except that they were already an established elite school, having won all major tournaments for three years in a row.
She just didn't want a repeat of what happened.
X
Misaki inwardly did a little leap of joy as she finished her homework for the weekend after practice had finished, still yawning as she checked the clock. 11pm. Shit. But she still grinned as she packed up her bag to prepare to get home. She had made plans to meet up with Satsuki, Ki-kun and maybe even Tetsu… She couldn't wait to see Shouichi again. Aomine was in his school and was his kouhai – a really laughable thing since Shouichi hated him terribly for hurting her – and maybe he could tell her if Aomine had changed for the better. Her older brother would have the ability and authority to make him go to practise for matches, and would torture him. She doubted that Shouichi would be able to make a huge difference in his character though. Part of him was still that arrogant, irritating, devil-may-care kind of teen. He might think that Aomine's behaviour was justified and even might argue with Satsuki about his attitude. Aomine had become a monster, and he was never coming back. Misaki had to admit to herself that yes, she still somewhat had feelings for him. After all she had been his friend throughout middle school, and although he had made her heart break, Aomine was still firmly etched into her memory.
She refused to believe that he had no good qualities left. As long as Satsuki was around to help, Aomine wouldn't be that bad. She might even convince him to start loving basketball again. Sighing in frustration, Misaki finished packing and ensured that all her clothes and stuff were packed before leaving the dorm. She had arranged to meet Akashi to board the evening train back to Tokyo. Unlike her, Akashi wasn't going to meet any of his old friends or hadn't planned to yet, which was kind of weird, but Misaki had already accepted it as part of his unique personality.
Beep. Misaki clicked on her phone, and found that it was a message from Hoshimi, her current bestie in Rakuzan.
To: You
From: Hoshimi
just saw akashi today. creeepy much! how do you stand him as ur deskie agen. i pity u so much omg
Misaki sighed and typed in a reply. He isn't that creepy you know, he's just somewhat different. She still didn't understand how people thought Akashi was creepy. Hoshimi thought he was frightening and psycho, and complained to her countless times about it, which Misaki found odd. Akashi might have a lot of eccentricities, just like a bunch of rainbow-haired basketballers in Teikou, but that didn't make him particularly dangerous or anything. He was just a regular high-schooler whose eye colour somehow had changed. Hoshimi and her other classmates were a little stubborn. Maybe Misaki accepted his character because like him, she had two sides of her personality. That was somewhat exaggerating it, but… she was like a kaleidoscope, always changing colours, never quite the same.
Akashi could be serious and somewhat… commanding one moment, then occasionally a softer side of him appeared, one that Misaki suspected was the one who helped Tetsu become a first stringer with his tactics and the one who celebrated Teikou's win in first and second year. Akashi so far had been nicer to only her in school for some reason, still stoic and stiff with his other classmates and basketball teammates.
Somehow, she liked it. She liked it that Akashi Seijuurou somehow was different towards her. That made her a little nervous and blushy for some reason, but she liked it anyway.
X
On the train, Akashi had been surprisingly chatty for once, for him. He didn't exactly talk a lot compared to other people, but it was significantly more than what he usually said. He asked about who Misaki was going to see again, asked about where she lived, and asked about her brother and Aomine's relationship in Touou.
Although the way he asked the questions was kind of cold – his typical style – she appreciated it. She still couldn't stop blushing whenever he leaned a little close to her to ask her something though. Whatever Akashi did, it made her heart overturn and made her pulse quicken. Which annoyed her in a way. Misaki was never one of those girls who loved boys and masculine boys with so-called "hot bods" or anything. While she admired their muscles and somewhat secretly like to see them, Misaki didn't go boy-crazy or anything unlike some of her airhead classmates…
But Akashi Seijuurou was different from everyone else, and made her so damn confused about her feelings she hated it. She liked the way the both of them seemed to be alone in a bubble of their own whenever they interacted, though. Misaki was the only one Akashi was even mildly close to, and he was basically the one whom she felt the most comfortable with. No need for any conversation or witty remarks. Just pure, comforting silence. Sometimes, she even felt uncomfortable with asking questions. Misaki much preferred not saying anything, just observing everything around them, the two of them together.
Due to her overwhelming curiosity, she asked him about the Uncrowned Kings, and apparently they also were named the Crownless Generals by the others in the basketball circuit. They would be considered the strongest in the basketball league, if not for the Kiseki no Sedai's appearance. So they were basically overshadowed by them. With a slight pang, Misaki realised that Aomine hadn't taken the time to explain that to her or told her about any formidable group on the court. So Akashi enlightened her. They all played a variety of positions, and for some reason Eikichi used to play Power Forward, but switched to playing Centre.
The other two players were in Seirin – as heard from Kuroko – and Kirisaki Daiichi High. Kiyoshi Teppei from Seirin was a lighthearted Centre, and had played against Eikichi once before. Maybe Eikichi-kun switched to Centre so that he could get revenge, huh… The more Misaki heard about the Crownless Generals, the more she liked them. They were competing furiously against each other, never hating basketball, always enjoying the game. So much better than that group of rainbow-hair-coloured idiots. Yes, they were united, but the Uncrowned Kings loved basketball more, and had better outlooks. That was what really mattered to her. And as Misaki's thoughts drifted away to her past life, she decided to ask the red-haired boy something she usually wouldn't, her heart palpitating for some reason, anticipating his response.
"Akashi-kun, do you… miss your old teammates?"
"What do you mean? I suppose I do think about them occasionally."
"Then… Do you want to join me and Satsuki to meet up with Tetsu?"
"No."
"Why?"
"I prefer not to answer, that is all."
Those beautiful heterochromatic eyes looked directly into hers, as if challenging her to say otherwise. She didn't
Akashi shut up like a clam afterwards and didn't say anything before saying goodbye at the train station when they reached. Although she wasn't disturbed or shocked at his reply – since she had gotten used to his company actually liked that personality of his – Misaki was curious about that curt, short refusal of his without any explanation. Why didn't he want to see his old teammates? He thought of them and missed them. Occasionally she had asked him about his Teikou past a little sensitively and cautiously, but he never really answered her, usually answering quickly and vaguely, leaving her even more puzzled than before. She had clear vivid memories of her Teikou friends, though they weren't even playing on the same court as her. Akashi, being the captain, probably would have fonder memories of them being together merrily in first year or even the first half of second year.
However, being in charge of rainbow-haired idiots with weird habits and overly-large egos must be really tiring. Akashi was an exception though. He definitely would have made them all knuckle down and listen to him, obey his authority as in his own words to the current team, "I am absolute." Almost hilarious. Misaki liked him much better than the others in a way, because he was likely only geared towards victory due to that mindset of his. But since Aomine and Kise had complained countlessly about their 'fierce and damn scary' captain, Misaki deduced that Akashi must have been a strong stoic leader without much emotional attachment to his teammates, and decided not to probe into the matter. He wasn't a tsundere like that green-haired dude, was he? Nah. Akashi Seijuurou was much better than that.
Tsunderes were awkwardly cute, and though the boy was kind of cute in a way sometimes with his quirks, most people wouldn't call him awkward, right?
The moment she stepped off the train after a long, long wait (she didn't care about the exact time taken), Akashi had already disappeared. Misaki sighed, taking off her earphones before glimpsing a black-haired lanky boy with glasses and a very familiar stance leaning on a nearby column, yawning while checking his phone, not even noticing her. And she practically ran towards him, shouting his name, her heat hoping that it would be the old Shou-nee that she would see, and not the new Imayoshi Shouichi that first appeared in second year. "Shouichi!" With a surprised look, her brother turned and got engulfed by a hug from his younger sister. Although it might sound creepy, Misaki studied Shouichi carefully, examining every detail.
Her brother had grown a little, and his legs got slightly more muscular and longer, probably from Satsuki's exhausting training regime. He was looking as cheerful as usual, with that usual squinty glance on his face. He smiled at him, also taking her in. She had grown a little as well, and she seemed more mature and less hyper since she left for Rakuzan. Maybe because Rakuzan was a serious old school, but Misaki was still bright and cheerful, just not that hyperactive deredere she was once before. And he liked that change in her. She seemed to have more charisma, more substance. No longer that empty-headed little sister he once had.
Both of them journeyed home together on the subway, catching up on news. Shouichi told Misaki all about Aomine and his skipping practice, but didn't really show much concern since he was performing rather well. He was the ace, and his Kantoku Harasawa did mind a bit, but if they wanted to keep Aomine in the team they would have to accede to his requests. Misaki sighed while hearing this. For so long, she had hoped that he had become just a little better, not as selfish and arrogant as before… But Aomine was naturally talented. She somewhat pitied him for being all alone, in the highest position, the best player on the court. Because Aomine was all alone. The Generation of Miracles could match up to him somewhat, but after all he was known as the ace of the Teikou team. He was practically unbeatable. At least in one-on-ones. He was lonely, all by himself, and no one could understand him fully and felt his loss.
But there was Akashi Seijuurou after all.
Was he as skilled?
And although Misaki somewhat was able to understand what he was feeling, she didn't feel it herself or anything. She merely sympathised with his plight, but wasn't exactly able to feel his loss. That pained her, and him as well. It was just that Aomine Daiki showed emotions in a different way. He was kind of like a tsundere, always refusing to admit his feelings… Misaki had to act as peacemaker between him and his pink-haired childhood friend countless times just because that baka refused to admit that he was wrong.
Misaki barely chatted with Shouichi along the ride home, with just him talking to her about his team's eccentricities, and showing her a group picture of them all standing awkwardly in the Touou Locker Room. There was a puppy-eyed brunette which Misaki thought was SO cute, one of those sweet and shy boys. Ryou Sakurai was a freshman shooter with a clutch personality, which Imayoshi thought was kind of cute in a way as well. Wakamatsu Kousuke was a dirty-blonde-haired centre that looked super aggressive and a little annoying at times, just like Eikichi Nebuya, her own team's musclehead. Apparently Wakamatsu liked to argue with Aomine a lot, and as Shouichi started complaining about the both of them, Misaki couldn't help but start laughing.
Aomine would just be the type to irritate those kind of dedicated but snappy players. There was also Yoshinori Susa, a big-sized third year and vice-captain. Then there was Aomine and Shouichi. Shouichi was only average-sized for a basketball player, but would be the smallest player in Rakuzan along with Hayama and was indeed the shortest in Touou, besides Ryou Sakurai who looked like a little child anyway. In the photo, the Touou players all wore bored expressions on their faces, except Ryou who was smiling nervously as Aomine had decided to lean on him for support, and Shouichi who was squinting into the camera as usual. Satsuki was too busy trying to get Aomine off Ryou to look into the camera at all. Misaki frowned.
Touou Gakuen really was a team that emphasised winning more than teamwork or anything else. Essentially, it was the type of team she disliked the most. Rakuzan wasn't much better, actually. Third year Shouta Higuchi, the previous manager and ex-first year player of Rakuzan, had resigned because he heard Akashi was joining the team, and thought he was of no use anymore, what with a tactical genius as captain. Thus they really needed a new manager, and recruited her. She had only seen Shouta Higuchi once, when she passed by him in the hallway, and she only recognised him after staring at his name tag intently. Misaki could kind of tell that Shouta knew that she was the manager, as when she did so, he merely smiled and waved a little, startling her. A third year, he was going to enter university soon. It was kind of sad, the way he quit the team. According to Hayama, Shouta Higuchi had truly loved basketball. First, he was a player, next the manager, then… Basketball was out of his life altogether.
No matter how much effort and dedication Shouta had put into his training or trying to become better at basketball in any way, it hadn't paid off at all. He loved basketball more than anyone else in Rakuzan, but didn't get the chance to play or do anything related to it at all. So in a way, she couldn't criticise Touou. Misaki just sighed.
Why was everything in the world just so miserable?
X
After going home and dumping her things in her room, the pair of siblings stayed there to rest for a while, before Misaki went out to see her best friend. Or maybe ex-best friend. They didn't really talk a lot anymore, her being so far away. Maybe occasional midnight chats a few times a week or texts, but most of the time Satsuki was trying out some clothes, and Misaki was just worn out from all the practice and brainwork. Rakuzan was tough.
"Mi-chan! You're finally back! I missed you so much you know… Eeeek~" Momoi Satsuki threw her arms around her indigo-haired best friend with the most adorable expression on her face. Misaki smiled at her cheerily. Satsuki seemed just as deredere as usual, happy and carefree. Despite her looks, Satsuki was just way too observant for a normal high-schooler, being able to scan other people and read their potential and data. So Misaki had to be careful not to expose any information about Rakuzan and be wary when she came close, and anyway Satsuki also would know better than to reveal too much information about her players.
"Nanodayo, you look exactly the same, Mi-chan! We're going to the Aida Kagetora club to swim today, remember? Tetsu-kun and Seirin will be there also! Lets catch up later~" Misaki grinned as both of them boarded the subway. She missed Satsuki's cheerful laughter and personality. People in Rakuzan were just too serious, sometimes even nerdy. It was hard to find someone about as happy as you were. Misaki only got to go back to Tokyo about once every fortnight or every week if she was lucky, so her schedule was packed. She had to see Ki-kun, Tetsu – which she was going to see anyway – and all her other old teammates… Sometimes, she really regretted going to Kyoto, far far away.
Sometimes, she wondered if she went away just to forget about her tormented past, and not to see those same old faces again.
But she couldn't help missing them.
X
[A/N]: I hope that was good, and there's going to be a slow, really slow bit of fluff between Akashi, Misaki and eventually someone else, who is a surprise. The next chapter would probably be about a nice mini little meeting between Momoi, Misaki and Kuroko! That will be more comedy and happiness, rather than deep emotions and thoughts, which this story is currently focused on. Some comic relief from the tense emotional parts…
Kaijou and Shuutoku aren't really prominent now, and I'll try to bring them out soon as both of them are really important teams. They appear really early in the anime, especially Kaijou, but since this is Rakuzan-based, technically they don't meet often unless they're playing in semifinals or finals of games, as Rakuzan is in Kyoto.
And please comment on my new story idea below!
[Kise/OC] Possibly Oneshot
She sees him almost every day, just sitting there, smiling all the time like a golden beam of sunlight. He's there for everyone to see, and she doesn't want to say anything that'll come out as rude or anything. And she values her life, after all. If she even seems vaguely friendly towards him, at least a dozen girls would start mobbing her for so-called stealing their Kise-kun.
He sees her almost every day, just sitting there, dreamily staring outside the classroom through the window like she's travelling somewhere out of this world. She's there for everyone to see, and she doesn't seem to see how much he notices her, how he tries to say something to her, how much he thinks about her when she's not there, unlike everyone else.
They're like two shooting stars far away from each other in different galaxies, travelling in different directions, being pulled together abruptly for almost no reason at all.
