I'm bad at describing basketball, or actions, or anything in general. I had a thought while I was sleeping the other day that I forgot to write about Kise's loss against Aomine. I got up and checked, turns out that I had written it, just...how does my mind operate like this. PG, I need majority of this PG before I sin.
Before I sin is a dumb thing to proclaim.
I've sinned so much quizzes told me I'm heading straight to the bottom of hell.
To dear GuestEtha, um, yes, after probably an entire week and more, happy fourth of July. Except I'm Asian-Australian and have only a very vague idea of what the American's celebrate and how they do so. Apparently, a lot of fireworks. I'm very sorry for my lack of understanding of the other side of the world, I will now Google. But nevertheless, happy fourth of July. On the other hand, I do hope you're having a wonderful holiday, and truly you're making me jealous because down under it's winter and the wind wants to blow me away. I only update things once a week so don't worry, you won't miss much. Have a good holiday! Also, friends are nice (saying that makes me sound like I have no friends oops). Glad you liked the chapter, hope you like this chapter too, and have a good week. Until next week, lovely~
"Kikue-chan, you came to watch!" Kise beamed at Kikue. The girl didn't say anything, but nodded as her attention was drawn to the shoes Kise was wearing. Kise, noticing the girl's gaze, smiled sheepishly. "They are really comfortable-ssu."
"That was the point Ryōta," Kikue deadpanned, and then smiled at the blond. She beckoned him closer and put her lips to his ear. "Grandpa is out of the ICU."
"That's great!" Kise almost jumped at the news. Truth was, he had visited a few more times while Matsui Mikage was in ICU along with Kikue, and the sight was slightly haunting. He was genuinely glad for the elder.
"It would improve my day if you won," Kikue started, and Kise beamed even more than he already was. But of course, Kikue was not going to let him be so elated for long, she smirked as she continued. "Because it would be a pain to have to cheer you up later."
"Kikue-chan~" Kise complained. Kikue laughed and tried her best to pat his shoulder.
"I'm joking, you can count on me to cheer you up if you lose." Kikue told the blond. "Though, I doubt I'm a good person to cheer you up if you lose."
"Why-ssu?"
"I'm, undefeated." Kikue shrugged. "I don't know what it feels like to lose."
"Kikue-chan, are you showing off?" Kise teased. Kikue gave him a pointed look before turning to go to the audience seats.
"Whatever you do, just try not to hurt yourself. The thing you talked about with Takeuchi-sensei, I don't like it." Kikue said to Kise as she left, then a lot more quietly to herself. "Though I would look after you if you do get hurt."
"Kikue-chan!" Kikue turned to see the biggest pair of boobs she had ever seen. Ah, correction, Kashiwagi Mion, whom she had become friends with during her month in Tokyo. "I didn't know you were coming to watch."
"Well, I had time." Kikue replied. "And I had a feeling Ryōta would complain if I don't turn up."
"When were you on first name basis with Kise-kun?" Mion smirked at the shorter girl. Kikue shrugged and took a seat next to Mion. "So you two are a thing?"
"No, I don't think so." Mion could swear she saw a frown on Kikue's face for the quickest second, but she blinked and Kikue's expression was neutral as it usually was. Kikue looked at Mion, as if miffed by her question, though she had given an answer. "I really don't think so."
"What, do you serious feel nothing towards him?" Mion questioned. "Even though I feel like you definitely like him."
"Maybe you're right about my feelings," Kikue said after a short silence. "But it doesn't mean Ryōta likes me." Kikue paused, and looked at the court where the two teams had gathered while she conversed with Mion. She forced herself to stare at Kise, and then turned her eyes back to Mion. "He's, very free."
"Freedom?" Mion muttered as she thought about Kikue's argument. "Well, I can see where you're coming from, he doesn't seem like he can settle down."
"That's not what I was thinking, but fair enough." Kikue giggled. Mion gave Kikue a pointed look. "He is a model, fans are important, Miichan."
"Kikue-chan is the jealous type though," Mion stated. "Him accepting treats from fans don't tick you off? Even a little?"
"Miichan, I feed him dinner and dessert every second day, would I care?" Kikue replied. Mion laughed at the girl's reply. Kikue could say one thing, but Mion knew she was jealous. "Miichan, please, shut up. And don't let anyone know."
"Kikue-chan is definitely you're typical Leo." Mion commented, and the two girls stopped their conversation as the whistle for the match blew. "No hard feelings?"
"We're not the ones competing."
"Well Kikue-chan, word of advice," Mion started. Kikue hummed a reply, her eyes not leaving the court as she realised what Kise was going to do. She swallowed a sigh. That was going to hurt his body. "You might want to prepare yourself in bed."
"WHAT!?" Kikue's attention snapped away from the court, and even the percentage of hurting himself that was been calculated disappeared. She looked at her friend with complete disbelieve and her face flushed. She had been so shocked that she could only manage to mouth her disbelieve. Her voice did not find itself out of her throat. She was glad for that at least. Mion was sitting beside Kikue as if she had started a perfectly normal conversation.
"By the looks of him, he's probably the same type of person as Ahomine in bed." Mion continued. Kikue knew well that Mion was ignoring her discomfort. "They get really intense and wild."
"Kashiwagi Mion," Kikue started slowly, part of her brain noting how the match had moved into ten minutes break. "Explain to me, how watching basketball could lead you to start a conversation on what goes on in bed?"
"It's like any other conversation you should've had in middle school Kikue-chan." Mion looked at Kikue as the court was mopped down. "What did you spend your middle school life doing?"
"Not talking about sex, that's for sure." Kikue muttered.
"Wait, Kikue-chan, have you never dated before?"
"I was a little busy winning world championships for that," Kikue was obviously miffed, and Mion knew. And Kikue knew Mion knew. "Can we please stop talking about this?"
"Even though Kikue-chan is so cute?" Mion pouted. "You should live more like a fifteen-year-old."
"Miichan, I don't want to date anyone." Kikue said with a tone of finality. She gave Mion a pointed look before standing up. "I will go get drinks."
Kikue heard a giggle as she left.
"Kikue-chan, are you sure it's fine-ssu?" Kise asked as Kikue let him into her house. She had waited until the basketball club finished their meeting, and then had silently stayed by Kise's side. Then she had lead Kise to her house.
"Well, the only way I am capable of cheering you up would be cooking." Kikue muttered as she set down her own bag in the corner of the living room. "I told you I'm not good at this."
"Kikue-chan, it's fine-ssu, I appreciate the thought."
"I want to cook you dinner, got a problem with that?" Kise noticed that the girl's face was slightly red as she said that, and she instantly turned around and headed to the kitchen. Kise dropped his bag and followed Kikue.
"Kikue-chan, are you jealous of the snacks I've gotten from my fans earlier-ssu?"
"No." Was the short answer from the girl who seemed needlessly concentrated on looking through her fridge. Kise would've almost believed her if she hadn't repeated her reply a second time. "No I'm not, definitely not."
"Kikue-chan, you're frowning."
"You can't even see my face Ryōta." Kikue replied irritably, as if she knew her lie was been seen through. Kise walked closer to the girl, stopping next to the fridge. Kikue closed the fridge and straightened up, turning only to find Kise right next to her. She was blushing, and there was an unnatural pause between the two of them as they realised that they were probably too close. "Step back a bit."
"Ah, right, sorry, I didn't notice-ssu." Kise stuttered quickly as he took a step back. Kikue's eyes flickered between his face and the ingredients she held in her hands, as if she was searching for the exact recipe to cook him as well. Maybe he deserved it for trying to tease her, and then accidentally stepping too close. But he wanted to see her reaction.
"Well," Kikue started. Kise took another half a step back, taking care not to hit anything in the kitchen. Kikue frowned, but continued. "Since you're in here, and you can't seem to shut up, you might as well help me make dinner."
"Kikue-chan looked like she was going to cook me as well-ssu." Kise sighed in relief. Kikue's frown disappeared as she burst into a fit of laughter, her eyes sparkling as she did so. Her laugh was so beautiful for a moment Kise just stared at the girl. It was such a nice change from the fragile girl that relied on no one else but herself, though he found her fragile side equally as attractive. Still giggling, Kikue walked over the Kise and passed him a head of cabbage.
"I don't think you have any right to be scared of a girl my height," Kikue shook her head as she smiled and turned to continue dinner preparations. Kise looked down at the cabbage, and then at the girl who had busied herself in the crop top and short shorts she had worn to watch his game. She looked at Kise as she grabbed the chopping board and spoke up again. "What are you standing there for?"
"Ah right, I will help-ssu."
"It's rare you get a day off from training, why are you at my house as if I just insulted your entire family, your ancestors inclusive?" Kikue asked as she pulled her hair into a pony tail. She had the air con on, however, her hair was getting in her way. Kise sat in her living room as if he wanted to pick a fight with Kikue, yet she could not find a reason as to why. "What did I do?"
"It's what you didn't do Kikue-chan." Kise said as he fixed his golden eyes on her. Kikue blinked and willed her brain to remember what Kise could possibly mean. She had subconsciously picked up her pencil and spun it in her hand.
"I have no idea what you're annoyed about, Ryōta." Kikue said after a while.
"Please tell me the date five days ago-ssu."
"July the 27th?"
"And why am I asking you about July the 27th?"
"I don't know? Did I miss something important?"
"Kikue-chan, that was your birthday-ssu."
"Ah, you're right." Kikue replied as she realised she had forgotten her own birthday through the chaos that her life had spiraled into. "I forgot with all the stuff going on. But there shouldn't be a reason for you to be annoyed about that."
"Yes there is, since Kikue-chan got me a present for my birthday-ssu."
"I get paid," Kikue said, trying to avoid Kise's pout by looking down at her homework. "A lot."
"Don't avoid eye contact with me Kikue-chan," Kise commented. "Is there anything you want for your birthday-ssu?"
"No," Kikue said, not looking up. "By the way, have you done your homework?"
"There has to be something you want Kikue-chan," Kise said, and unable to control herself, she flinched. That was her problem exactly. She didn't have anything she wanted that could be granted easily. Her grandfather's health was one thing. Her uncle returning was another. Then there was the fact that she had become so incredibly aware of Kise Ryōta as the opposite gender because of Mion. Hanging out together often was different from dating, and Kikue was sure she didn't want to go out with Kise. Not with her situation and her mental state. She would only ground him, and she knew instinctively Kise was not someone who wanted to be grounded.
"I don't want anything Ryōta, it's fine." Kikue said, knowing all too well her voice betrayed her worries. "I've been told that's a problem."
"Is it," Kise started cautiously. "Because of something with your parents?"
"I guess," Kikue replied, looking up at the blond, who looked troubled. "I'm working on it, I'm really trying."
"Ah no, I know that-ssu," Kise said quickly. "I was just thinking if I knew something Kikue-chan might like."
"You ask me such a question and doesn't even end up paying attention?" Kikue sighed and shook her head. But when she looked at Kise, she was smiling. "Well you know Ryōta, do my family a service and keep visiting."
"That's what I would do without Kikue-chan having to say." Kise whined.
"Then keep doing it." Kikue said. Then, in a smaller voice, she muttered to herself. "It's the only time I can keep you to myself."
She didn't want to find out if Kise had heard her.
"And so everyone is paying me surprise visits," Kikue commented as she opened the door to reveal her two friends, Hatsuna and Shouko. She let them into the house and closed the door behind her. It was an afternoon, and Kikue had just returned from visiting her grandfather. He was doing a lot better, which put Kikue in a good mood, however, she had also found out that Kise had been paying her grandfather visits without her knowing. That was strange. "So, why are you two here all of a sudden?"
"To do homework?" Shouko said, sitting down in front of the table and taking out a few handouts. "I've been at club activities so I haven't done any of this."
"And Hacchan?" Kikue asked as she walked to the kitchen to get chilled mugi-cha. She returned moments later with three cups of tea.
"I had time, and we haven't seen Kikue-chan for quite a while."
"You see me every time I kidnap you to help the basketball club with me Hacchan," Kikue sighed. She could figure out why her friends had chosen to visit her at her house now. Another Mion episode incoming. Kikue swallowed another sigh. "Which reminds me, Hacchan, can you cook?"
"Cooking? Not really?"
"Shouko can you…wrong person to ask." Kikue sat down and rested her chin on her hand. Shouko understood the gist of Kikue's predicament and laughed, earning a glare from Kikue and a confused look from Hatsuna.
"Did the basketball club ask you to help out at their training camp?" Shouko asked, and Kikue nodded. "You're not even their manager, but you've got time don't you?"
"I'm reluctant to leave Grandpa," Kikue started. "But Grandpa said it would do me good if I went. I don't get it."
"I'm sure they would understand if you didn't want to go Kikue-chan." Hatsuna said. And Kikue frowned.
"I'm been told by my own Grandpa, that it would be nice if I went to the basketball club's training camp." Kikue sighed. "Because Kise Ryōta had said it would be nice if I went. I don't understand."
"Matsui, do you really not understand, or are you playing dumb?" Shouko asked, hiding a smirk. She turned to Hatsuna and the two girls exchanged a knowing look. Kikue observed her friends with an unamused expression, then gave Shouko a pointed look. Shouko and Hatsuna laughed. "On that note, how come Kise has gone to visit your grandfather?"
"No clue, according to Grandpa, he goes really frequently." Kikue said. "Next thing I know he will be my Uncle's best friend."
"That sounds like a Kise thing to do." Shouko said. "What do you think of him Matsui?"
"I knew you couldn't have just came over to do homework." Kikue shook her head and glanced at Hatsuna, who seemed equally interested about her opinion of Kise. "Ryōta is Ryōta, what kind of answer are you two looking for?"
"Do you like him?"
"Of course I do, why else would I hang out with him so much?"
"Shouko-chan didn't mean as friends. More than friends?"
"Maybe, probably," Kikue answered. "Most likely."
"What's with that answer?"
"I don't know."
"Matsui."
"You should do your homework Shouko."
I cannot wait until I start writing Aomine's fic with Mion. Ah but then...Aomine is a hard character to write. Decisions.
Does that constitute as spoilers, or is that ok?
Murasaki xx