XII. Opened Doors: Flickering Zone

Hinata stood, frozen like a statue, before he walked stiffly away to return to his practice.

"Listen, Hinata!" Aomine shouted, "Just because you have you first practice match doesn't mean you can beat me!"

Hinata flinched; his neck creaking as he slowly faced Aomine. "H-hai!"

Aomine gapped like a fish. Hinata – the wild animalistic Hinata – just said yes to a declaration like that.

"Aka-chin broke Hi-chin." Murasakibara stated easily.

Akashi sighed, seeing how his announcement had practically made Hinata a dead weight to the team for the practice match tomorrow. He supposed it is fine, since it is the first practice match Hinata will be having.

"He will go over it, right Hinata?" Akashi asked.

"H-hai! Like now I'm feeling exitation!" Hinata said, looking unconvincing to the eyes of the regulars and the first strings. Haizaki snorted to the side, finding the situation unbelievably pathetic for someone who got directly into the first string, but held his tongue because Akashi seems particularly fond of the brat.

"Exitation? Do you mean exhilaration?" one of the first strings asked.

"Y-yes!"

Midorima fidgeted, trying to find the right words to encourage his dear kouhai. He rehearsed under his breath; "You should be able to do it."

When he was convinced that he won't blow this one up, Midorima took a deep breath and called out to Hinata. "Hinata, there's no need to be nervous. It was just a practice match. I have high expectation that you won't lose."

Midorima flinched when his words turned out wrong, and then he continued into the state of depression when he saw Hinata becoming even paler.

"Fail~" Murasakibara commented. Aomine was laughing hard, since he heard Midorima rehearsing earlier.

"Shut up!"

"Oi! Satsuki!" Aomine called, a wide grin on his face, "Go and support Hinata! I'm sure he'll get over the nervousness!"

"Eh? Why me? Oh!" a bulb lighted above Momoi's head before she turned to face a certain teal haired boy she is crushing on, "By using my feminine wiles, right? I'm going to show Tetsu-kun how supportive I am!"

Kuroko inwardly shuddered, but he kept a passive face.

Kuroko watched as Momoi approached Hinata, folding her hands under her B-going-to-C cup breasts, raising her breast to make it seem bigger, and said something supportive that Kuroko was sure along the lines of 'Do your best!'. Before long, Hinata's face is covered in red, and steams were coming out of Hinata's ears.

Realizing that she was not gaining any response from the orange head, Momoi poked his cheek, but there was still no reaction from Hinata.

Beside Kuroko, Aomine laughed. Kuroko just shook his head, knowing that the innocent little junior had his brain short-circuited by Momoi.

"I still don't understand Aomine-chi."

"Don't understand what?"

Kise watched the frozen orange head, unimpressed, and then he stared at the bluenette, who had his back faced to them, beside Aomine.

At that instance, Aomine smiled lazily. "The shrimp is the same as us even though he doesn't look like it, but Kuroko is different, entirely different. You would understand it if you watch him in a match."

Kise scowled, not getting what Aomine meant.

.o0o.o0o.

Hinata clung into Kuroko as if his life depended on him.

"Hinata-kun," Kuroko chocked out, "We are going to warm up for the practice match. Please let go of me."

"Eh… ahahaha… h-hai!... desu."

"It's not that different from our usual mock matches Hinata."

Hinata forced out a stiff smile, before he, somehow, for some reason, tripped in thin air.

"Coach," Kuroko called, "Was I this clumsy on my first match with Nambara Junior High?"

Coach Sanada sighed warily as he assembled the players. He looked around the gym's court, taking in every player in the Komagi Junior High. Sanada scowled, because he realized that the regulars were the foul-playing regulars. He also noticed the referee talking with the captain of Nambara Junior High.

Money and Briberies makes the world go round and round.

"You were clumsy on the court." Coach commented, "I thought there's nothing wrong with you before the match, but seeing you move like that on the court, even Aomine will realize that you were nervous."

Coach Sanada sighed once more. Head Coach Shirogane had sent Kuroko into numerous of practice match, but hadn't set one for Hinata. His reasons were somewhere along the lines of 'Hinata's play-style is still too simple and straight forward to be used in a real match'.

"Go warm up. Your usual set." Sanada ordered.

Kise smiled his sparkly-sparkly smile to the few girls in the room, who immediately blushed and started a gossip. Kise's smile remained even as his gaze landed on Kuroko, who had earlier rejected his challenge for Kuroko's uniform.

Kuroko is a coward, really. How can someone as weak as that be a regular?

Kise averted his gaze to the stuttering Hinata, a plan suddenly forming in his mind.

"Ne… Hinata-san… would you like to make a bet? If you score lower than me, I will get your uniform…"

"H-hai?" Hinata shot up, surprised at the sudden call.

"Eh?" Kise grinned, misunderstanding the 'hai', "Than may the best person win this bet~"

"E-eh?"

.o0o.o0o.

"The following starters will be Kise as Power Forward, Hinata as Small Forward, Hayase as Center, Jun as Three-Pointer and Yugao as Point Guard. Kuroko and Kento will be the main reserves depending on the situation."

That was what Coach had said, but looking at Hinata right now, the only word to describe him was… pathetic. Kise watched as the stuttering mess called Hinata fumbled with another ball, making it another out for Teikou.

"Teikou, player switch, 14 to 16."

And of course, Kise scoffed, it was about time Coach gets tired with Hinata's mistake. Kise watched as the Hinata gloomily walked back to the bench. Kuroko seemed to whisper something to Hinata that brightened him up, so Kise could guess it was something encouraging. Kuroko then walked over to him.

"Ever since they started to use underhanded methods, they are catching up. Watch where the ball goes, Kise. Prepare to catch it."

Kise just 'hah'-ed in confusion. It was only later on when he realized the weird phenomenon that has been happening around the court (disappearing ball, un guarded Kuroko, suddenly appearing ball) was Kuroko's doing that he started to focus in his plays rather than Kuroko's play style.

He finally realized that one line Kuroko said.

"What's the most important for the team is to think what you should do for the team."

And he finally realized when Aomine said Kuroko is different.

"He is a shadow, I am his light. He is entirely different from us."

"As of now," Kuroko had continued, "I am your temporary shadow, and you are my light. I'll make you shine even brighter on the court."

Kise had to grin at that particular cheesy line Kuroko had declared earlier.

.o0o.o0o.

Coach Sanada grinded his teeth, irritation at the opponent's team swelling up like a fire. They are starting to harm Teikou players, more specifically Kise, because he was easily the strongest in the court. The score gaps are getting narrow, Teikou's attack frequencies are lower, and Teikou players are also losing their focus at their irritation.

It was in the 3rd quarter, Kuroko has been using his misdirection excessively, so it was running out sooner. When Kuroko's misdirection runs out, they no longer had a way to secure Teikou's victory.

"Victory is Everything"

Hinata could easily turn the tables around, but with his mind being a mess, he couldn't send him out.

Coach Sanada gripped his clipboard tighter when he saw the opponent team kicking Kise's feet, but the referee who had clearly seen it did not blow the whistle.

"Coach," Hinata suddenly said, Sanada did not bother to turn his head, but he could feel the… odd calmness in Hinata's voice, "Let me out. I'm starting to get pissed."

Curious, Sanada glanced at the player standing not far from him, amber eyes burning with such an intense fire, so wild and so… dependable… a contrast to the stuttering mess he was earlier. Even though he said he was pissed, Hinata's expression only showed extreme concentration and mild annoyance.

Coach Sanada, before he could even stop himself, said, "Yes."

"They don't deserve to play basketball," Hinata said, "They don't deserve to play sports in general."

"Teikou, Player switch, 23 to 14."

Sanada watched as Hinata made his way back to the court, wondering if he made the right decision by sending Hinata out.

(Sanada can't help but wonder, if the small dot of flickering orange light he saw in Hinata's pupil was just his imagination.)

.o0o.o0o.

Hinata was standing on a dark- black room. The only thing- the only object he could see was the huge door in front of him, the double doors opening wide, as if inviting him to enter to whatever room the door leads to…

Hinata stepped into the court, flickering orange eyes scanning for players – who he should avoid, who he can easily pass the ball to, who have a slow reaction time – he would be facing. Hinata's eyes landed on Kise, who was staring at him in disbelieve, then his eyes scanned for his ever favorite sempai. His eyes landed on the teal haired teen, who was giving him worried glances.

Kise-san is certainly reliable, he had shown himself capable. And Ghost-sempai was sure to keep watch on his back.

Curious, Hinata entered the huge double doors, only to be met by even more darkness…

"Ghost-sempai, pass the ball to me. Seeing them hurt my friends… pisses me off…"

A relieved smile grazed Kuroko's lips, and Kuroko nodded.

The game started, Jun passed the ball to Yugao, and Yugao quickly dribbled it to the opponent's side. One of the opponents blocked Yugao, and Yugao quickly passed it Hayase since Kise is marked by two people, only to be intercepted Kuroko who had the ball slapped to Hinata.

"Hinataaa~"

A sound calling his name echoed throughout the room. Hinata turned his head, searching for the source of the sound.

Hinata caught the ball, and for once in the game, he did not let the ball fumble. He dribbled the ball, using his speed, even deeper to the opponent's territory. One of Kise's blocker went to him, extending his arms, preparing to hit Hinata.

"Do you remember our gymnastic practice with Matsuri-sempai?"

Hinata scoffed at what the echoing sound implied. "Of course I do."

Hinata twisted his body, balancing the ball in one of his hands before he bend his legs and sprung up, doing a somersault with the ball still with him, avoiding the upcoming hands that were clearly meant to punch him in the stomach.

"Where are you, anyways?" Hinata asked, still looking for the source of the voice, "I can't see you anywhere."

"I'm below you~" The voice said. "Far-far below you."

Hinata landed safely on the ground, before he started dribbling the ball once more, closer and closer to the ring.

Hinata looked down, and true to words of the voice, there was someone far under him, sitting behind another open double door. Hinata bent down, hands touching the transparent ground, watching it as it rippled slightly, entranced by the fact the he was actually floating. He can't see who was inside that other door, since it was so dark and… black…

"Eh~" the voice said disappointedly, "So you still can't get yourself drowned here, it seems. That's such a waste, even though the second door was already open for you…"

"Second door? Drown?"

When he was close to the ring, Hinata jumped, throwing the ball in a layup he trained so very hard. The ball entered the ring easily. Hinata walked back to his team, ignoring the happy chatters and congratulations from the team.

"I can't get up there and float like you do," the voice said, "You need to get stronger and stronger, slowly let yourself drown, then come and face me. Enter the second door. But right now you are just flickering in the edge. You can't even get past the water! How can you even come and face me? Quickly get stronger! And then we will face each other! I'm bored waiting like this, you know?"

Hinata grinned. "It's a promise! One day, I'll definitely play with you and defeat you!"

Hinata stared at Kuroko, receiving an approving look from him. But Kuroko could feel something was wrong with Hinata. By now Hinata should have jumped around, stating his accomplishments with his alien 'Fuwaa' and 'Boom Boom' language, but this Hinata did not. This was just like the time Hinata was going one on one with Aomine seriously, an entirely focused Hinata.

Kuroko secretly sent a glance at the still gaping Kise.

Kise shook himself out of his stupor when Kuroko suddenly jabbed him by his side, before he went to Hinata and said, "The bet is null. You won. You're clearly Teikou's regular."

Hinata answered, "But we're still not done yet. There's one more quarter to go."

"Yes, there is."

Kuroko definitely did not miss that… the trail of orange light from both of Hinata's pupils as he turned back.

.o0o.o0o.

"The game after Hinata regained his bearings went on smoothly. The opponent's team was unable to decide who they should focus on blocking, which gives Teikou a huge opening. Kise seems to start accepting Hinata as a fellow regular, since both Hinata and Kise had started to work together, either with Kuroko involved or not. Teikou won with 89-77."

Coach Shiroga smiled as he heard the report coming from Assistant Coach Sanada, satisfied with the result, but Akashi seems to disagree and drilled Sanada with even more questions.

"How about Hinata's, Kise's and Kuroko's condition after match?"

"Kise has the most bruise, but nothing the infirmary can't take care of. Hinata and Kuroko was not harmed, since Hinata is too… lithe and Kuroko for his invisibility."

"That's not what I asked." Akashi asked. "I mean how their connections to one another are?"

"Hinata and Kuroko are as usual, but Kise had started to bestow them the name of… chi… and he had started to converse with the both of them."

"You mean Kise started calling them Hinata-chi and Kuroko-chi respectively?"

"Yes."

Akashi smiled, satisfied with the result.

.o0o.o0o.

"Morning, Captain!" Hinata greeted with a huge smile as he opened the window to the Student Council Office, throwing the huge sack that he frequently use for running Student Council's small errands to the floor before he climbed into the room.

Akashi nodded in greeting before he returned to the papers in front of him. "Do you have the piece of clothes and wood from the Drama Club?"

"Yep, in the sack."

"Good. Have them placed in the hall. Have this flyer," Akashi gestured to another pile of paper on top of his desk, "Spread among the students. We need as much help as we could for the upcoming festival."

Hinata took the flyer and tucked it into his jacket, before he took the huge sack of wood and clothe and readied to jump down the window to the tree in front. Hinata paused, remembering a question that had been bugging him since the beginning.

Akashi raised a questioning eyebrow at Hinata, urging him to just state whatever was in his mind.

"Ne, Captain," Hinata started, "Do you know anything about a huge door in a dark room? Where you need to drown under the clear black water surface?"

"I'm afraid I do not know what you are talking about, Hinata."

"Oh…" Hinata dejectedly sighed, "That's too bad. I want to get to know the person behind that other door…"

And with that, Hinata jumped off the window, using the tree in front to swing to the lower floors.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, revealing a certain black haired ex-captain of Basketball Club. "Akashi-kun," he said in greeting.

"Nijimura-sempai," Akashi nodded his head in greeting. "Is there anything that you need?"

"A permission letter," Nijimura said as he extended the letter in his hands and placed it on the table, "I'll be absent for tomorrow to check on my father's condition."

Akashi nodded as he took the letter, opened it, and read it. Then he gave Nijimura the permission slip. "Fill it, then have it given to the administration."

Nijimura pocketed the paper. "Who were you talking to earlier? I heard voices, but no one was here with you when I entered."

"It was a junior from the basketball club. A first year, but a regular. He has been helping me run the student council errands."

"Basketball, huh?" Nijimura hummed, "I kind of missed that. But I need to focus on my studies so I won't worry my sick father… So how was he? Being a first year regular was not easy especially with you as the captain."

"He was a nervous wreck during his first practice match, but he got over it."

Nijimura chuckled. "Well, it can't be helped. But that was one weird conversation you have earlier. About doors and a dark room? I seem to have heard something similar to that though, but I'll need to hear more details from you to actually recall something concrete."

Akashi huffed recalling Hinata's question. "He asked about a huge door, in a dark room, where you need to drown under a clear black water surface."

Nijimura scrunched his face, trying to remember the description.

"Ah!" Nijimura snapped his fingers, "This is important Akashi. You said he was a first year?"

Akashi nodded.

"How long has he been playing basketball, exactly?"

"He played occasionally for fun during elementary, but he just recently took basketball seriously when he entered Teikou around one month ago as transfer student."

Nijimura hummed after he heard Akashi's answer. "He didn't damage his body, right? Entering the door while he was as young as that might strain the body too much."

"Do you know something about it?"

"I do know about what Hinata is talking about," Nijimura said, "I have experienced it firsthand, when we were in last year's championship. Do you remember that time I started giving seemingly random orders, yet it was actually a plan to win?"

Akashi nodded, recalling the pinch Teikou was in during the finals of the championship. There was only 2 more minutes left, and they were behind the opponent's score by 11 points. Nijimura suddenly snapped out random orders: run to that side, wait under the ring, leave me behind and block this guy. Even the lazy and silent Murasakibara was used effectively during the match.

"Yes, but then entering the door is hard. There are requirements, different requirements for each people. That championship final was the only time I managed to enter the door. And my head hurts badly after the match. I started asking some professional trainers about the door and the black room. He said that not many were privileged to even see the door, let alone enter it."

Akashi nodded as he listened to the explanation.

"What was behind the door," Nijimura said, "it was an area that allows 100% of the human brain capabilities. We call it as… the 'Zone'."