Guess who got her laptop back! I'm so sorry for the long update. Broken laptop plus writer's block is a horrible combination.

This chapter is a little boring, but don't worry the fun starts next chapter.

CHAPTER THREE

"So this is Teiko." Mirai examined the architecture from outside the gate. She compared it with Kagajima High; there's not much of a difference when it comes to grandiosity.

Reiko opened instagram and took a picture, posing with a cute a v-sign, the school serving as a background. "And post." Within 10 seconds, her phone was flooded with notifications about a hundred people liking her recent picture.

"They do have a laboratory here, right?" Mikazuki looked at Hana.

"Yes. Everything in the school is upscale and high class. From the classrooms down to the equipments." Hana glanced at Mikazuki. "Although I'm not bailing you out if you get in trouble."

"Hey now. When did I ever get into serious trouble?" Mikazuki pouted.

"Mikacchan, you were suspended from the robotics lab in Kagajima for the rest of our second year. During senior year, your laboratory pass was confiscated for a month, and Hanaccha had to convince the teacher to give it back since you won't play basketball properly." Ayazami said, her face adorned with her usual poker face.

The girls nodded in agreement. "You all make me sound bad." Mikazuki complained.

The redhead just shook her head before leading her fellow queens inside.

Teiko is just walking distance away from the girls' residence. For Hana's part, she's been here a couple of times before. Their corporation is a huge investor in the school and whenever her father's schedule would clash with board meetings, she would attend them in his stead. Hana knows everything about the school; she's one of it's annual inspectors after all.

"Let's head for the office first, so we'll know our assigned sections."

"Don't they post it on a bulletin board?"

"They do. But I'd rather not go with a horde of pesky students, but if you're up for it, go ahead."

Teiko has an unofficial caste system, a trend where students follow nonetheless. Sections A and B are where geniuses belong, the section with advanced classes. Sections C and D are where average students put. Not too smart, but not dumb either. Section E is for students who could pass but barely. Sections F and G are where dumb students are dumped.

Sections A and B are the most respected class. Sections C to E, not so much. Sections F and G are the target of discrimination and ridicule.

Hana knocked on the vice principal's door thice before entering. The other four followed. The vice principal had a typical old man look: fat, bulging stomach, suit and tie, and a grumpy face.

"Good morning, sensei."

Upon hearing her voice, the vice principal looked up from the magazine he's reading and he had a momentary internal panic. He knows who Hana is, and he should've obviously made a good impression. "Ojosama, good morning! And to your friends, as well."

'Ojosama?' Mikazuki and Reiko snorted mentally. 'How fake.' They thought. The girls already know how much power Hana held in her hands, and that wasn't the reason why they're closely related with her, but to actually witness someone giving the redhead a special treatment in hopes to get a higher position in the society was amusing and annoying at the same time.

"Oh if I have known you'd arrive today, I would send staff to greet you at the gate and-"

"Sensei, we're here to get our section assignments." Hana cut him off with a tone that screams dominance and finality. "And could you please give me the full list of students in our class? It would be very much appreciated."

Fun fact: Reiko taught her that kind of approach. When talking with someone who obviously wants to get in your good side for their own benefit, and you want to roll your eyes so bad but you can't, "shut their trap and kill their hopes dead."

Hana's last sentence is not to be misunderstood. 'Could you please' always translates to 'I want to' or 'I require' in Nanami's dictionary.

Like a certain redhead, Hana is not someone to be defied. The aura she eminates always demands respect and submission.

The vice principal quietly typed some commands in his computer, then the printer started to work. Hana thanked the vice principal and exited the room.

Hana scanned the paper. "Ayazami, Mikazuki and I are in Section 1-A. Reiko and Mirai are in section 1-B. Not bad. We're all in the advanced class." The red head scanned the list of students, until her eyes landed on two names that belonged in section 1-A.

She glanced briefly at Mikazuki and Ayazami, who she very well knows the one thing they have in common: they left a man behind.

"Hana, what's the wifi password here?" Asked Reiko. "There's like, a lot of but I guess these are restricted to students."

"Exactly. So why are you asking for it anyway?"

"I need to check my e-mail every now and then. There might be a job offering for me." Reiko explained, to which Hana understood. Reiko tends to get hired a lot by many huge modeling companies. She isn't tied under any agency, so she's open to a lot of opportunities.

"Don't you have data?"

"I'm saving that for emergencies. Data is expensive, ok? I pay my own bills." Even if she came from a well-off family, despite the bratiness, Reiko is actually an independent woman. As long as it's possible, she pays for her own stuff using the money she earned.

"Ask Mikazuki to hack the system." Says Hana. "They change the password regularly. The one I know should be invalid by now."

Mikazuki fished a small tablet from her bag. The tablet is specially designed to hack and infiltrate systems. Mikazuki's level of expertise at the moment allows her to hack the first level security in the whole Tokyo.

"Wait a sec." It doesn't take long for Mikazuki to find out something as simple as a password. "Hana, give me that paper. And a pen, please."

She wrote a bunch of letter and number combinations on the blank side of the paper and gave it to Reiko. "Wow, ok thanks, but I need the password for every router."

Mikazuki smirked. "You see my friend, their ISP is something I've hacked a thousand times, and this school's firewall is very weak, basically non-existent. I created a secondary, ghost password that allows you to permanently access every router in this school. Which means the school nor the ISP company doesn't know there's another password to the connections since, it's a ghost one. Are you following me? Yes? Well good. No? I'm not gonna repeat what I said. That one in the paper is the password I made."

"Yes, I get it, I'm not dumb." Reiko rolled her eyes before typing the password.

"Is that how you thank someone, Reiko?" Mirai put a hand on her hips. If there's a motherly figure in the group, that would be Mirai. The one who constantly reminds the girls to eat on time, or bring extra shirts during practice or the one who breaks incoming fights, is Mirai.

"Thanks."

"I'm gonna accept your forced gratitude, so you owe me." Mikazuki replied. "I want a box of potato chips delivered on my doorstep tomorrow. You know, the ones you got from Paris."

"The hell Mika, do you know how much that costs?!" Reiko exclaimed, thankfully the hallway is empty. "Plus I got those for free, from an old geezer who owns a potato farm."

"Then ask your manager, Rex. He should have connections." Mikazuki grinned.

Reiko grumbled something under her breath but texted Rex nonetheless. Reiko and Mikazuki's friendship is the type that gets stronger by bickering and insulting each other.

Ayazami stood in the middle of her friends silently. It's not that she's out of place, but that's just how she is. She mostly wears a blank expression, a 'cold, resting bitch face', as stated by no other than Reiko, but it's not hard to get emotions from her unlike a certain phantom player.

Also, she's innocent, too pure from the world. That's why even though she's perfectly capable of protecting herself, Ayazami could be too naive, gullible and painfully dense sometimes, so the other girls serves as her protectors and defense squad.

But there's one huge exception.

In the corner of her eye, Ayazami caught a familiar shade of red, and no, its not Hana's. She whipped her head immediately towards the moving object, and her eyes widened, as much as she can show.

The posture, the demeanor, and the soft, red hair she loved... it belongs to him, and she knows it. It has to be him. He disappeared on a corridor, and he seemed to have 4 more guys trailing behind him.

"Reicchan, may I see the paper?"

Ayazami adds '-cchan' to the names of people she's close to, or at least she considers to be. Hanacchan, Reicchan, Miracchan and Mikacchan. The girls think it's cute. "Oh I already threw it. Were you going to ask for the password? I memorized it."

The whitehead shook her head. "No, but thanks anyway."

"Teiko's middle school campus is already impressive but this is even more amazing." Kise gaped at the interior architecture inside Teiko High's walls.

"That is to be expected of an elite school, Kise." Says Midorima, pushing his glasses up.

"First day of school, and you're already grumpy Mido-chin." Murasakibara chimed, whilst munching a maiubo, much to Midorima's disgust.

"You're all too noisy." Aomine yawned, Momoi smacking him in the arm after. "What the hell Satsuki?"

"Mou, don't be like that, Dai-chan!" Momoi scolded, then turned to her boyfriend. "Tetsu-kun, do you think this year will be interesting?"

Kuroko had an instinct for interesting things. Truth to be told, he was feeling different this morning, but he couldn't point out whether it was a good or bad one. Either way, he knows he's 80 percent sure that this school year would be different. "Maybe, Momoi-san."

Akashi usually kept quiet during his teammate's regular banter, only speaking when needed or when he feels like it. He uses it to his advantage, since he could walk and think at the same time without having his teammates questioning his silence.

He didn't know whether the slight uneasiness of his nerves was due to being dreadful or excitement. Of course, he's ecstatic to meet his bestfriend after three years, but would she feel the same?

As the group turned to an aisle leading to their respective classrooms, a horde of students seemed to have a commotion on the other end of the hallway.

Every year, on the first day of school, it's expected to have such noisy and crowded hallways. The sound of friendly chattering and the sight of newly formed friendships were everywhere. It was especially the case of freshmen who's new to highschool life.

This year however, is different. Majority of the student's attention were all focused on the 5 new comers.

The queens strolled onto the tiled floors like royalty. Hana in the front, Ayazami beside her, and the three tall girls behind them. Hana's piercing eyes caused the crowd to part when they walked, like how the sea parted for Moses.

There were whispers here and there, some murmurs and stares directed at the girls. Out of the bunch, a lot of people recognized Reiko, since she is kind of a public figure. She made the front page of many major magazines, and models for different local and international brands.

"M-mibuchi-san!" A random girl squeaked, bravely putting herself infront of the girls. "Canihaveyourautograph!"

"What?"

"can i have your autograph..." The girl murmured, suddenly terrified at all the eyes directed her.

Mikazuki snickered. "She wants you to sign her notebook."

"Reiko, just do it. We look like bad girls here." Mirai mumbled. "I mean, look at all these people staring at us."

Reiko chuckled, the one that gives one the chills. "Sure." The girl happily handed her the notebook. "You know, facial creams exist for a reason. You obviously need it, I mean I could literally draw a picture if I connect the dots, I mean pimples, on your face. Here you go."

You know how some mean girls insult other girls in the worst way possible, but they're still very much loved? That's Mibuchi Reiko for you.

"T-thank you!" The girl disappeared in the crowd, clutching the notebook as if her life depended on it. Soon, people wanted Reiko's autograph too.

"Mibuchi-san! Can I take a picture?"

"Can I have a selfie with you?"

"Please sign my chest!"

"Sign my butt!"

Hana and Mirai sighed. It wasn't anything unusual. Back in Kagajima, students crowded Reiko everyday, even during club practices. Girls and mostly boys, constantly hope to get the brunette's attention.

"I'm sorry people, but I'm currently busy at the moment. I do however have an open fansign event next week, I'm inviting everyone here to attend it." Reiko smiled seductively, adding a wink at the end. She fished her hankerchief in her pocket before throwing it on the crowd, which immediately went into frenzy, trying to get ahold of the piece of fabric.

"Ok, so are we done here?" Mikazuki rolled her eyes when Reiko started to blow flying kisses and flirtatious winks.

"Ahhhhhh!"

"It's Kise-kun!"

"Kise-kun I love you!"

Ayazami and Mikazuki jumped at the sudden shriek of what seemed to be coming from the entire female population. The crowd parted to reveal a group of seven, six boys and a girl.

"What seems to be the commotion?" Akashi calmly asked, but nobody could be fooled by that. Majority of the students tensed, since most of the students in Teiko High attended Teiko Middle School, and knew Akashi's terror.

The queens weren't affected in the slightest. Judging from the appearance, the one who spoke must be Hana's cousin. They witnessed and experienced firsthand the horror of Hana's demonic side raised to the highest level. So Akashi doesn't faze nor scare them in any way.

But then he stopped breathing for a moment. He came eye-to-eye with the snowy white haired girl he cherished the most.

Ayazami was very surprised, although her expression only shows it mildly. She definitely hadn't expected to meet Akashi here.

"Well, this isn't the reunion I had in mind," Hana started, "But hello, my dearest cousin. It's been a while."

Hana's voice definitely woke Aomine up. His eyes slightly widened at the female redhead. She's the one he saw at the mall, the girl who had a striking resemblace to his captain.

The slightest details didn't escape Hana's sight. She looked at the tanned male in the eye. "It's nice to finally meet you personally, Aomine Daiki. I hope you already forgave me for destroying you on our match."

Hana smirked. Aomine of course did not forget that one-on-one. She destroyed him, 33-6.

The miracles, Kise specially, looked at the now wide-eyed ganguro. "W-what?! That was you?!" He exclaimed.

Momoi gazed at Hana. The pinkette knew little of what happened that night she found Aomine gaping at Hana's retreating figure.

"Hi Shin-chan!" Mikazuki waved at Midorima, who was narrowing his eyes the moment he saw his annoying childhood friend.

"What are you doing here, Kagura?" He inquired.

"What do you think students do in school?" Mikazuki always loved using sarcasm on Midorima, she takes fun in seeing Midorima's pained expressions.

"Tch." Midorima pushed his glasses up. "I don't think they'd actually accept you here, they must not have known how much of a nuisance you are."

Mikazuki smirked. "Oh? Are you that threatened by me, four-eyes?"

Midorima huffed. "Don't be stupid. You are not, at the very least, threatening. Not in academics, not in anything."

"Don't get me started on academics. You don't even know the difference between dextropropoxyphene and levacetylmethadol, so shut up."

Midorima glared at the ombre-haired girl, while Mikazuki's smirk only widened, much to the shooting guard's annoyance.

"I know you!" Kise exclaimed, pointing at Reiko.

Reiko flipped her hair. "Who in Japan doesn't know me?" She asked in a raised brow. "I'm a model and you've probably seen my face in some magazines. Nice to know I have lots of fans here."

Momoi definitely knew her. She's a girl, and it's a given that she buys fashion magazines from time to time.

"I'm a model too! Kise Ryota, have you heard about me?" Kise asked. He was a bit excited now that a student with the same status as him goes to the same school.

Reiko rolled her eyes. "No, and I don't care if you're a model. You look like those pretty boys with empty brains. Blonde and stupid. Huh, how fitting."

Aomine laughed at that one. "She's right though, Kise."

"Don't laugh Aomine-kun. You're exactly the same, nevermind the pretty boy and blonde part." Kuroko chimed.

"Oh, and you owe me a new gucci dress. You ruined the last one." When Kise made a confused face, like, why do I owe this woman a dress I don't even know her, Reiko rolled her eyes for the second time. "You spilled coffee over me at the mall, over 2 weeks ago."

Kise sometimes avoided going to public places since girls crowd around him. Over the school break, he only went to the mall once and that was when his manager asked him to buy something for the studio. He remembered bumping into a girl and he didn't expect that it was Reiko.

Murasakibara just stood there and watched them talk. He's got food anyway. Mirai recognised the giant center, she remembered their stupid encounter at the grocery. She may have a maternal feel, gentle and level headed, but food is a different case. Mirai's childish side will always come out as long as there's food involved.

The female center decided not to say anything. She tucked the strands of jet black hair that fell on her face behind her ear.

Ayazami stood there, locking eyes with Akashi. She thought that Akashi was cute the last time she saw him, and became handsome now. He grew taller; not as tall as those guys behind him but 5'8 at 16 is taller than the average. Ayazami had a strong urge to run into her bestfriend's arms and hug him tight, but decided not to.

'He might be angry at me for leaving so suddenly.' Ayazami thought dejectedly. 'I didn't even say goodbye properly, and now I have the nerve to show up like this.'

What Ayazami didn't know, was that Akashi was this close to carrying her somewhere where there was only the two of them. He missed those white locks he used to play with, he missed the times where he would try to get a reaction out of her usual stoic face and succeed, he missed her innocence, he missed everything.

"Aya." Akashi whispered. The softness and affection that laced his voice did not escape from Hana and Midorima.

"Sei." Ayazami's hand twitched, one that did not escape Akashi's sight.

"Come here." Was what he'd like to say. When they were younger, Akashi would always beckon Ayazami to come near him, and Ayazami would comply. Sometimes, Ayazami would tug at the redhead's sleeve and Akashi would give her the attention she wants.

But he didn't. He had never made an effort to contact Ayazami, nor patch up the widening hole in their friendship, so what gives him the right to think that she still treated him the way she does before. Even worse, she may even resent him for not calling even once.

The sound of the morning bell was heard through every corner of the entire campus, and a female voice announced through the PA system that the opening ceremony will be starting, instructing all students to proceed to the grounds.

The crowd of students that surrounded the two opposing groups started to dissipate, although there were others that casted curious glances on them.

"As much as these... sort-of reunions interesting," Hana spoke to alleviate the increasing tension between the two groups. "We should all be heading to the school grounds. Excuse us."

Without any word, the queens trailed behind Hana. Her face was ice cold as Akashi's. Reiko cast a sideways glance at Kise before rolling her eyes, while Mikazuki sent a mischeivous smirk at Midorima. Mirai did not notice how Murasakibara's gaze followed her form under his hair. Ayazami stole a glance from Akashi before walking beside Hana.

"Well, they sure an interesting bunch." Said Kuroko, who was silent during the whole exchange.

"Kuroko, where did you get that milkshake?"

The opening ceremony was as boring as ever for most students, including the two troublemakers, Mikazuki and Reiko. Mirai had to pinch two of Mikazuki's acupressure point on the neck to keep her from dozing off, while Reiko's phone was almost confiscated when she was almost caught playing candy crush.

Ayazami tapped Hana's shoulder. "This is more boring than the banquets." She whispered.

Hana agreed. Being the daughters and heiresses of two powerful companies, Hana and Ayazami were often at banquets with other business tycoons... which were always formal and never fun. But at least they could always escape from the event, unlike the current ceremony.

An hour later, thank goodness, the ceremony was over and students were sent back to their rooms. It was officially the start of a new school year.

Class 1-A

"What the hell are you doing here?" Mikazuki squinted her eyes at Midorima.

Midorima looked up from his seat, frowning at Mikazuki. Behind her was Ayazami and Hana. "I should be the one asking you that."

Ayazami observed the classroom. There were three columns, and the desks were two-seaters. She kept scanning with her eyes up and down, until her eyes landed on Akashi, sitting at the center front. Akashi beckoned her silently to take the seat beside him, to which she did, making them occupy the whole front table.

Hana took the seat from a table at Ayazami's direct left. She quickly examined her seatmate, he seemed to be a quiet and reserved person. If she was wrong, she could always make him shut up. Mikazuki was still bickering with Midorima until Hana told her to take a seat.

The said shooting guard didn't like sitting at the back. Unfortunately for Midorima, the only seat available closest to the front was beside him, much to Mikazuki's delight. Now she could annoy the hell out of him everyday. Both of them now occupied the table behind Ayazami and Akashi's.

"It's been a long time, Aya." Akashi shifted in his seat to face Ayazami. "How are you?"

"Good." Ayazami suddenly wanted to smack herself. Why isn't she great at talking, she thought. "You?"

"Still reserved as ever, I see." Akashi smiled, the type that no one, not even his teammates saw. "I'm doing fine. How about your sister?"

Ayazami hummed. "Ayami-nee? She's great. She was recruited to coach the To-Dai basketall team."

As far as Akashi knows, Hara Ayami, Ayazami's older sister, went to America around the same time when Ayazami left for Nagasaki to coach a collegiate team. "When did she get back?"

"Last January. She arrived earlier than I did." Says Ayazami.

Akashi nodded. "Do you still live in Shibuya?"

"Yes. I'm neighbors with Hanacchan and the other girls."

When they were younger, Akashi didn't often go to the Hara residence, rather, Ayazami was always the one who went to the Akashi mansion. But even so, Akashi was familiar with Ayazami's neighborhood. The brunette and the raven-haired girl didn't live there before.

"I knew about my cousin and Kagura-san, but what about the other two?"

"Miracchan and Reicchan's family moved in last year, during our third year in middle school. Both of them moved for the same reason, because of their parent's jobs." Ayazami explained.

Hana watched as the two talked and catched up from the corner of her eye. She may not notice it, but Ayazami is practically glowing. Her expression shows much brilliance as though they won a championship. Hana smiled softly.

Moving her gaze to the duo behind them, her face went blank at the sight.

Mikazuki once again took her daily dose of bullying Midorima. They were bickering back and forth, occasionally outsmarting the other.

"Hey Shin-chan, this reminds me of elementary days. We were seatmates back then, right?" Mikazuki had a grin plastered on her face. She took Midorima's glasses off, and his vision blurred. She tried it on, but took it off immediately and frowned. "Wow, your eyesight sucks."

Midorima glared at her, or at least, what he could make of her. He's near sighted, he could see a slightly blurry Mikazuki beside him. "Give it back Kagura!"

Mikazuki stared at his face for a moment. "You have long lashes." She muttered.

"What?"

"I said you're ugly." She huffed, handing his glasses back.

Midorima's vision instantly cleared when he put his glasses back. He glared at her figure, he should have known. Mikazuki loved pestering him, always testing his patience. And the thing is, he always lets her. But he doesn't know that.

"Hey Shin-chan." Mikazuki called with no intentions of teasing. "You're good at chemistry, right?"

Midorima looked at her questioningly. "It is one of my best subjects, if I say so myself. Why do you ask?"

"I'm going to try something later at the lab. I need an assistant." Mikazuki leaned on the table, using her palm to support her head. "You'll come with me."

It wasn't an order or a plea. Mikazuki just stated it as if it was the most natural thing in the world; them being partners at everything since diaper days. Midorima pushed his glasses up. "Why would I trouble myself with your ridiculous request? I will not put myself near any danger, especially ones caused by you."

"You say 'danger' as if I'm gonna blow up the whole school! Come on, Shin-chan." Mikazuki whined.

"What are you going to do? And students are not allowed inside the chem lab without the approval or supervision of a teacher." Midorima said.

Mikazuki straightened. Midorima did not miss the gesture; Mikazuki tends to get formal when explaining something. "Urea-methanal polymerisation. I'll explain the details later. As for the pass inside the lab, don't worry. My scholarship will take care of that."

"Scholarship?"

Mikazuki nodded. "Yeah. I've been on one since middle school. It's one of the reasons I attended Kagajima. With mom's hospital expenses, house bills and Kazuna's tuition fee, I don't want to add extra burden on mom with my education. So I applied for a scholarship. Not everyone is born with a good family like yours, Shin-chan."

It is not like Mikazuki's family is poor. They can still eat three meals a day, pay the bills and have decent home thanks to the fairly huge retirement pay Kagura Minako recieved five years ago, but it won't last them long. As for matters that require money like school, somebody has to work for it, and Minako nor Mikazuki is yet capable of working at the moment.

There was silence between the two for a moment, until the ombre-haired laughed. "Don't give me that face, Shin-chan. I'm on a special scholarship that will last until I graduate college. I get to choose the school of my liking that's included in their scholarship bracket no matter how expensive, and I get to go that school for free. On the condition that I get no grades below 90 and I will participate in at least one club."

"And what does that mean? It means I'm genius enough to be granted with a special scholarship, and that I'm awesome enough to be able go to elite schools without spending a single cent. So don't pity me because I'm cool, ok?" Midorima grunted when Mikazuki punched his arm.

For the nth time, the greenette glared at her. "Doesn't your father support your family?"

Wrong move.

Mikazuki's expression darkened suddenly. "Taboo topic, Shintaro. Don't ever mention that fucking sick bastard in my presence again."

She went silent after that. Mikazuki focused her sight on the board, but her mind was elsewhere. It was like that until the homeroom teacher arrived.

Midorima realized that he asked a sensitive question and gave a silent apology. It should be enough payback for pestering him all hour, he reasoned. But he cannot deny the goosebumps he felt when she answered with such hatred and anger.

He could only wonder what really happened to Kagura within the three years she was gone.

Class 1-B

As soon as Reiko and Mirai entered their classroom, students paraded around the brunette model, much to the center's exasperation. Mirai searched for a seat, pulling Reiko behind by her collar.

"Ah! Mirai you're ruining my uniform!" Reiko whined. She pouted after Mirai dumped her on a seat side the window, which happens to be her favorite spot. The desks in the classroom are the typical one-seater unlike the tables in class 1-A.

"Then fix it." Mirai calmly said as she took the seat on Reiko's direct left. "How come you get so much attention wherever we go?"

"It comes naturally, Akara Mirai-chan~" Reiko flashed a smile that charmed a million people. "Like, how could people not get attracted to a charming, sexy woman with a pretty face? Not every woman gets bestowed with a beauty like mine, dah-ling." The last word was said in perfect english.

Mirai rolled her eyes. "Yeah, thanks to your russian mother."

"Hey!" Reiko complained. "That's a no-no! Don't mention that, ever!"

Mirai quickly realized her mistake and apologized, and Reiko waved it off. Although the brunette acted like it was nothing, Mirai knew that it was a sensitive topic for her. Reiko and Mikazuki got along so much because they had one thing in common; family issues.

But to be honest, Reiko's half-russian genes from her maternal side did a lot to her appearance. Only at the moment, she didn't know whether she's thankful for the physical benefit, or resentful since she resembled her mother.

Reiko pulled out her smartphone, the one she uses for her job, when it buzzed in her pocket. It was an e-mail from her Manager, Rex, saying that she is offered a collaboration with Horikita Mai to promote for Ravijour.

"Oh, this should be good." Reiko typed an 'ok' and sent.

"Is that Rex?" Mirai asked, feeling slight pity for her friend. Even during holidays, Reiko is always alert for job offers. She already has a savings account and surprisingly, she already saved 5 years worth of salary for an average worker.

Reiko nodded. "I'll be collaborating with Horikita Mai for Ravijour."

"Ravijour? Isn't that an underwear store?" Says Mirai.

"Ravijour is a company, my dear, and I prefer the term 'lingerie', thank you very much." Reiko huffed.

"Whatever. "

Just then, a large body ducked under the doors of classrom 1-B. The male had always garnered attention about his absolutely tall and large frame and how he always has a bag of snacks with him. Murasakibara Atsushi walked over to the empty desk near the window, right behind Mirai.

"Hey Mirai, he's like you." Reiko whispered, sitting on Mirai's desk. "Tall, and a foodie."

"I actually met him once, but I don't think he remembers me." Mirai whispered back. They totally look like typical gossiping girls currently in a heated discussion about the hottest guy. "Remember the jellybeans incident I told you?"

"Wait, wasn't he one of those guys back in the lobby? He didn't say a single word." Says Reiko, stealthily glancing at the giant behind them.

"How could he when his mouth is busy with other stuff." Mirai said.

Reiko gave her a teasing grin. "I'd like to know what those 'other stuff' is."

Mirai playfully slapped Reiko's chest. Unfortunately, for someone like Mirai who grew up with a punching bag, a simple light slap for her could hurt for other people. "Ow! Watch the boobs!" Reiko hissed.

"Tss. I meant he was busy eating." The sound of a bag of chips being opened made her half-smirk. "I guess he still is."

Murasakibara stared at the girl infront of him, or her back view anyway. She has a jet black hair with violet highlights that she tied into a ponytail. Her skin is slightly tanned but the sexy kind of tan.

But she looks kinda familiar though?

Mirai felt him watching her. Afterall, she is a blackbelter. She knows when she is being followed, monitored or watched behind her back.

"Mukkun!" A pink haired beauty entered the classroom, smiling happily at what she called 'Mukkun'.

"Oh, Sacchin. Why are you here?"

"His name is Mukkun?" Reiko whispered.

"Mukkun and Sacchin." Mirai repeated. "They must be a couple."

Sacchin skipped towards Mukkun's desk, which happens to be just behind Mirai's desk. "Akashi-kun told me just now that you guys will be having a meeting later at gym 4. Looks like we have new recruits for the basketball team."

Reiko and Mirai looked at each other. Basketball.

"Um, excuse me." The model stood up from Mirai's desk and walked over to the duo. "It's kinda hard not to hear your conversation, but, are you guys in the basketball club?"

'Why are you like this,' Mirai mentally groaned. "Reiko, it's not good to eavsdrop."

Sacchin looked surprised. She's about to get into a conversatin with "Well, I'm the manager of the basketball team, Momoi Satsuki. This is Murasakibara Atsushi, he's a regular."

Reiko hummed. She examined the giant sceptically. "Heh, what position do you play, Murasakibara?"

"Center." Murasakibara drawled.

Mirai's ears perked up at the reply. From the looks of it, Murasakibara is definitely perfect to be a center. Looks like she'll have to fight for the regular position. "Wait, you're a first year, how come you're already a regular? Clubs haven't started yet." She asked.

Momoi answered instead, knowing that Murasakibara doesn't like explaining. "We attended Teiko Middle School and Mukkun was one of the regulars. They were champions for three years straight and were all recruited for Teiko High. The coach automatically promoted the five of them for the regular position."

"Oh wow, they must be talented then." Reiko said, but it was hard to tell whether she just told a compliment or sarcasm. "But what if there's a prospect of someone joining the basketball club and turns out, that person is just as talented, if not more?"

"Reiko." Mirai lightly pinched Reiko's thigh, a sign of warning.

"Hmm, I don't know, really." Momoi said. "With those guys, if there was someone who can surpass their skills, it would be years later. Honestly, I'm not sure if there's someone out there who could be on par with them."

Momoi didn't sound cocky or arrogant, rather, she sounded wistful.

"But you know, lately, they've been starting to pull apart from the team." Momoi went on. "Their abilities are continually growing, making them ahead of themselves. "

The queens shared a knowing look, as if they knew what it feels like for a team to break apart and were suddenly reminded of their past back in middle school.

Momoi took their silence for confusion. "Ah! I didn't mean to babble, I'm sorry."

"It's okay. So, when are the tryouts for the basketball club?" Mirai hoped she sounded unsuspecting, shooting Reiko a glance.

Momoi cocked her head to the side. "Eh? It was announced during the opening ceremony. Weren't you attentive?"

Reiko chuckled unsurely. "How could I? It was boring right from the start."

"Couldn't deny that. Well, Teiko High school is different, you see. While other schools recruit members on the very first day, our school is rather organized and spends the first week of classes for the clubs, election of student council and class officers." Momoi explained. "So the tryouts will be on the whole week."

"Sacchin, I'm out of snacks." Murasakibara complained. "I will go to the convinience store."

"Eh? Mukkun, the classes are about to start. You'll be marked 'late' by the time you come back." Momoi chided.

"But I'm hungry."

"You literally just finished a whole bag of snacks!"

Seeing how childish and stubborn Murasakibara is, Mirai snickered. Momoi sighed. "Mukkun, it'll really look bad for you if you were late on the first day of class. That would be more irritating, wouldn't it?"

That shut Murasakibara up. Momoi promised him a bag of snacks during lunch, effectively making the giant behave.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, uh..." Momoi faltered. She already knew who Reiko was, but didn't want to sound too comfortable.

"This is Akara Mirai." Reiko said. "I'm Mibuchi Reiko, but just call me Reiko."

"Ah, pleasure talking to you Akara-san, Reiko-san. I'm going to my classroom now." Momoi bid her goodbye and exited the room.

Reiko returned to her chair just after their adviser entered the room.

CLASS 1-D

"Will you shut up, Kise?" Aomine growled.

"But Aominecchi!" Aomine was this close to throwing the blonde out of the window. "Why did the red head girl say she beat you in a one-on-one? You didn't lose right? Was she exaggerating?"

Aomine clicked his tongue. "I'll tell you after you beat me."

"Aominecchi!"

"What, can't do it?" Aomine taunted.

The blonde spent the entire first period pouting and sulking.