In this whole situation one thing saddened me the most: how no one even bothered to speak to Aomine anymore. I couldn't say I blamed them, but I just couldn't stand by and watch a person get so bluntly rejected by everyone. Kuroko had very much so wanted to talk with Aomine, I think the two of them have known each other for very long, but after a couple harsh arguments with him Kagami forbid Kuroko to even go near Aomine. It was a pretty funny sight: Kagami looked more like a worried mum than a boyfriend, kneeling before Kuroko and holding him by the shoulders like a child, as he almost ordered him never to talk to Aomine again. Yeah, he was most definitely the rudest, most obnoxious, self-centered, inconsiderate… where was I going with this?
Right, so my point was that I found myself unable to simply give up on Aomine. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised by Kasamatu's reaction when I told him all this. Having seen him more devastated than ever after his first encounter with Aomine (at which I wasn't present – perhaps for the better) I was positive he was too disappointed to ever try getting to know him better.
"You know what dude? You're actually right." He replied, smiling at me then turning to look out the window again. We were both watching as Aomine reluctantly went about his training outside by the tracks. Ever since his arrival, Aomine seemed to literally always be around the stables. "I can't just give up on my idol either." My best friend managed a weak smile.
"There must be a reason why he's like that. I mean no one's born an asshole." I continued, happy to have my best friend on my side. "Maybe if we manage to find out what it is, we can get along with him. It'd make coming here every day a whole lot easier." I added.
Aomine was currently galloping like lightning around the perimeter of the tracks, and I found myself getting more annoyed with him by the moment. It wasn't just his impudence, no. It was because he was just so damn good at horse-riding – too good for someone who barely ever practices, and puts in next to no effort when they do.
"You could always rent a room upstairs." Kuroko spoke, suddenly right behind me. "It would also make coming here every day easier."
"Shit! Do you always have to do that?" Kasamatsu and I yelped simultaneously. Every time I began to think I was getting used to Kuroko's unnaturally low presence, he'd pull something like this – I guess some things we can never adapt to.
"What do you mean?" Kuroko sounded genuinely confused, "I had been standing here the entire time."
"That's Kurokocchi for you!" I joked, giving him a friendly pat on the head. "But, what did you mean earlier? About renting a room?"
"This building's two upper levels contain suites." Kuroko explained, pointing a finger upwards. "I hear the rooms are nice. Aomine-kun stays in one whenever he comes and even he doesn't complain." Kuroko stated.
That was enough of an argument for me. "Awesome, I'll do that then." I told my friends, "It'll save me plenty time and I can practice later into the evening!"
"Shouldn't you ask your parents before deciding?" Kuroko asked his expression thoughtful.
"Oh, my dad won't mind, I'm sure of that." I beamed at him, "He's cool with pretty much everything I do." My dad was really the most accepting and optimistic person I knew.
Just as the words left my mouth, my phone rang: I reached into for it into my pocket and checked the caller ID. "Speak of the devil – Hi dad!" I laughed into the phone.
"Ryo-chan~ thank God you answered~!" My dad chimed through the phone.
"What's up?" I asked, holding back yet more laughs. My dad had been calling me 'Ryo-chan' for as long as I could remember, yet I still laughed uncontrollably every time he said it. Perhaps it was due to the fact he was the CEO of one of Japan's biggest electronic manufacturing company, but had the mentality of a lost puppy. I was more capable of taking care of him, than the other way around.
"Ryo-chan, Help me please~" He lamented, and I could just picture him flailing his arms around, "I don't know what to wear to the meeting." I looked over to the large clock opposite where I stood. It was two fifty.
"Dad, the meeting starts in ten minutes and you're still at home?!" I questioned him, Kasamatsu erupting into a fit of giggles beside me. Though to be honest, I wasn't even surprised anymore: this was completely within his character.
"Oh no worries, they can't start without me." He brushed me off casually, "I have the keys to the conference room."
"You WHAT?" I demanded, absolutely stunned.
"Yeah they're here…somewhere." I could hear him fumbling through the drawers. "I swear I just… saw them." I let out a deep sigh, meeting Kasamtsu's eyes which caused him to double over from laughter.
Kuroko was- Oh. Kuroko was gone. 'Probably off to see Kagami.' I smiled to myself.
"Dad?" I sighed, giving up all hope if him ever acting like an adult. At least around me.
"Yes Ryo-chan~?" I answered, now sounding embarrassed.
"I prepared you a suit – it's in your closet on the right hand side." I explained, feeling like a mother, "The one with the blue shirt. Do you see it?"
"Yesh~!" He chirped loudly, "Oh what would I do without my little Ryo-chan~?" He giggled, and then hanged up before I could say another word.
'I ask myself that every day." I laughed softly to myself, shaking my head before speaking to Kasamatsu, who had to sit down because his stomach hurt from laughing too hard.
"So, Kasamatsucchi, let's go rent me a room." I smiled at him, extending a hand to help him up from the plush sofa.
"Good afternoon Aominecchi!" I chimed, my voice overflowing with sarcasm.
"Go die, blondie." He shot back, without as much as a glance in my direction as he halfheartedly adjusted the saddle on his black horse.
This greeting was now something of a ritual: our conversation, if you can call calling out insults at regular intervals conversation, always went more or less the same way. But today, I was really bent on steering it in a different direction – my curiosity as to why Aomine hates horseback riding so much was getting the better of me these days.
"Aominecchi~?" I called out to him as I mounted Kumo in one shift motion. He actually looked at me this time – that was good progress. "Tell me, what is it's name?" I pointed to Aomine's horse.
"This?" He questioned, also pointing to the horse, his voice mocking. "Well you really live up to that hair colour – this animal, is generally referred to as horse." He sneered at me, and then began to ride off in the opposite direction, throwing his head back laughing.
I couldn't help but think to myself; 'He has a really nice laugh – even if it sounds slightly evil.' before scolding myself, 'You should be angry at him he's a complete asshole.'
Aomine was still, thankfully, riding quite slowly and so I made my way over to where he was – on the edge of the tracks. I had to hurry if there was to be any conversation whatsoever – I doubt I could catch up to him if he broke in gallop.
"Come on, it won't hurt you to tell me." I insisted, as our horses walked together side by side. His eyes bore into mine with the intension to kill, and for a second my voice caught in my throat.
"It will hurt you if you don't shut up, you fuckwit." He barked at me, and then raised his eyebrows as though dare me to speak another word. And I never turn down a challenge.
His hair was messy in that weird sexy way – I focused on it instead as I continued. "Why don't you ever call him by his name?" I demanded
"Why the fuck do you even care?!" He shot back, pulling harder on his reins – the black horse went into a quick trot.
"Why the fuck not?" I yelled after him, also switching into a trot – even with this relatively slow gait, I was begging to struggle to keep up. Aomine was constantly a step ahead.
"Whatever." He retorted, speeding up even more. "It's none of your business so just go the fuck away."
"It's because you hate horse-riding right?" I asked my voice angrier now. There was something about this guy's attitude that just boiled my blood. "You hate all this so much you can't even call the horse by his name. I'm right aren't I?"
The second these words left my mouth, Aomine stopped in his tracks. He violently turned his horse around to face me – his looked more furious than I had ever seen him (it's important to highlight that during the past week where I had been spending a lot of time in his presence, I have seen him angry quite often.). He swung himself off of the horse and started towards me with quick, angry strides. I sat atop Kumo, too paralyzed to move.
"Get off you fucker." He barked, gesticulating violently, as he all but dragged me right off my horse. "Off! You and I need to have a word face to fucking face."
"Why are you always like this?" I snapped at him, regaining my composure after this ungraceful moment. "It's not surprising everyone else turned away from you."
"Yeah? Well why won't you just join them then?" He hollered, his angry face inches from mine. His answer caused all my fury to suddenly evaporate. I relaxed my muscles, and stepped back a bit.
"You can't possibly mean that." I muttered my voice just loud enough for him to hear. Aomine opened his mouth like he wanted to speak, but then closed it again.
"What the fuck is your problem, blondie?" He mumbled, looking everywhere else but at me.
"What it yours?!" I retorted, making a step towards him. "I just want to get to know you but you're making it extremely difficult. He gave me a quick glance, and then turned his back to me.
"Friendship isn't my thing." He spoke, walking back towards his horse. Seriously: I should be sick and tired of this guy. Or rather, I was sick and tired of him, yet I still wanted to spend time with him.
"Race me." I blurted out without thinking. I was the first thing that came to my mind – I spoke without really grasping the meaning of the words. For some reason I just couldn't let the conversation end like that. Aomine's laughter echoed just as their meaning sunk in.
"Don't be ridiculous." He cackled, but he had turned around. He was looking right at me, a sly grin spread across that marvelous face.
"If I beat you," What the hell am I saying? I can't beat a pro racer. "You'll acknowledge me as an equal." I struggled to keep my voice level, and the fact that Aomine was still laughing did not help one bit.
"The only one who can beat me," He called out proudly, his eyes piercing mine, "is me. Don't get ahead of yourself, Kise."
Ok so I know we're in the middle of a tough moment but… he called me by my name for the first time ever! If that's not progress then I don't know what is.
"Prove it." I challenged.
"Whatever then, if it'll make you shut up." He answered, already walking back to his horse in long, purposeful strides. "Just don't cry afterwards."