A/N: So, this is my once again last update, I'll update again after exams. After this I'll really study for our test. To all who reviewed and adds this to their favs and follows, I really appreciate it, thank you very much.
The quote for this chapter was supposed to be: Will it be okay for me to use that tomorrow? They seem to be doing their best, besides... if I do that it will be cheating.
I got carried away that the quote for Chapter 12 was typed in the end of chapter 10, soory bout that
to Infinite Skye: Thanks a lot for the "good luck", I really appreciate it, I'll do my best for our upcoming 3rd quarter exam ~
to Good For Nothing: Hey there, yes, I'll let you be Azami's jailmate, it's easy just wear something orange, just kidding
to TeeRoss90(since I can't see any sign for PM in your review I'll put it here, though it's quite late): Thanks for having the time to read this, I already added three new chapters. Hope you can find the time to read it^_^
to Tesshi(since I can't see any sign for PM in your review I'll put it here, though it's quite late): I'll thank you just the same for reading this all the way through. I already updated, hope you can find the time to read it ^-^
See you again after, minna~
"Yo, Azami-chan!" Takao greeted hitting my back in frenzy.
"Itte! I'm one of the female species for goodness' sake!" I complained, irritated by his sudden appearance and because he disturbed the peace I felt earlier.
"Eh? You're unusually lively today, what's wrong?" he asked putting an arm around my shoulder.
" 'Lively' is different from 'Irritated', fool," I uttered, removing his arm around me and walking faster, "And don't bother me! bother that friend of yours!"
"Nah, Shin-chan is busy right now!"
I walked even faster since he can catch up, "Why me?!"
"Because you're cute when you complain at me with that irritated face of yours"
I sighed, "That's the same with Midorima so just go back there and bother him. I need to find someplace where I can sleep peacefully"
"Eh? Sleeping again? You nearly got a ticket to the detention room, earlier"
"Leave me alone"
Since my eyes were sown I bumped a wall, or rather a hard chest. "You look at wher—"
"Ah, hello, Shin-chan," Takao greeted the person I bumped.
I massaged my forehead, "That hurts, what's with that chest anyway?"
"There's nothing wrong with it," he raised his glasses and walked past leaving the two of us without saying anything. "What's gotten into him?"
"Maybe because he was embarrassed?"
I furrowed my brows, "I really can't handle you Takao, your mind is flying elsewhere"
"And your mood is flying too"
I sighed, "I just need to sleep so I can calm down, the practice game will be tomorrow so I feel quite tense"
He raised an eyebrow, "Why would you? You never cheered for us"
"What if I want to do that in the practice game?"
"Yo, Mana—" Otsubo gulped upon noticing that Azami was sleeping on the bench with her varsity jacket covering her. He stared at her brother questionably.
"She came earlier but dozed off," her brother answered. "Well, there won't be trouble if anyone of you wouldn't wake—"
"TAKAO!"
The third years and the other people on court stared at the bench. They all shook their heads and gave their pity to the person who will die after fifteen minutes.
"Sleeping isn't one of your Manager duties," Midorima retorted, raising his glasses and staring back at me. I pouted, "I know, I just rested a bit... besides, that really piss me off, Takao, your way of waking me up was BRUTAL"
"You're the brute one for whacking my head!" Takao complained.
"No towel and water for you later," I stood up and stretched.
"NO WAY, I'D DIE"
I ignored him and just pushed the cart of basketballs. Midorima followed after me while Takao still complained. I walked to the scoring charts and fix them so they could start a practice game among themselves.
Will it be okay for me to use that tomorrow? They seem to be doing their best, besides... if I do that it will be cheating
"Okay, this will be my stop!" I announced cheerfully before stepping down of the rickshaw. Takao offered to drive me until the train station in exchange of the bottle and towel. Midorima didn't object so now I'm here. Takao breathed a sigh of relief.
"Tomorrow, win for me, okay?" I asked, a smile still on my face.
"Who do you think you're talking to, Azami-chan?"
"Stop underestimating us"
I gave them an innocent look, "I'm actually overestimating you"
Takao laughed, "You've to work harder on trying to look so innocent"
"Yeah, right, ja ne!"
We entered the wide Basketball Court of Kamenori High. My gaze turned to the bench of the opposing team where I met the eyes of a familiar brunette. He smiled at me suspiciously.
"Are you familiar with that brunette?" Coach Nakatani asked.
"I don't know that guy," I remarked and continued walking. We all went to the locker room assigned for us.
"The practice game between Kamenori High School and Shutoku High School starts now!"
"Bow!"
"Let's have a clean match!"
The ball was thrown in the air and was ready for tip-off. Otsubo-senpai got it ahead and as planned the team proceeded to its run-and-gun. Passing it back and forth to get to the hoop, we managed to make the first five points of the first quarter. Kimura-senpai was about to made a lay-up when the captain of the team, Takeuchi slapped the ball. It was passed to Kurosawa who made a three pointer. Kimura-senpai gets it for a rebound passing it to Takao who passed it to Midorima who made his long range three-pointer.
The game gets heated up again when the point guard, Kazuo got the ball. "One, don't let them take the lead!" he announced to his team mates.
"Yeah!"
Kamenori managed to score but still Shutoku got the first quarter by nine points ahead. They all returned to the bench for the two minutes break. The game resumed after and for some reason, Kamenori's way of playing was giving me the creeps. Because oddly, their moves, coordination and everything was quite familiar. Have I seen this before? It seems like they were replaying something. As if on cue, some sort of vision entered my mind.
A team was playing against Teiko. The third quarter had started and the score of the opposing team was starting to get farther and farther from Teiko's score. From the looks of it, it seems like they were depending on a miracle to win. The opposing team let a new member enter, replacing the power forward regular.
The new player was marked by # 7 of Teiko, basing from the height difference it is almost impossible for the new player to get pass him. That player simply jumped and #7 did the same, he made a stance which can be likened to a baseball player throwing the ball. It went in, miraculously despite the efforts of #7 to touch it with his fingers. The two descended and gave each other a heated stare before returning to their marks.
# 6 of Teiko managed to get the ball and made a formless shot, surprising the opposing team. The center of the opposing team gets the ball and made a dash for it while his team mates supported him for the basket. But still, Teiko gets the upper hand through #5 who managed to stop the center from making a shot. # 5 passed it to # 8 who performed the stance the new power forward made. The cries of the opposing team's bench can be heard along the lines, with a certain female correcting her team's idiocy.
Only the shooting guard was listening, following the female's command and making a three pointer. The small forward quickly stole it as soon as it was landed but the ball was stolen to him by # 15. # 15 passed it to # 7 who made a long range three pointer rivalling the first one performed by the opposing team.
Some members of the opposing team are already fumbling in embarrassment for their loss. But still two players are still making it alive by trying to push the team's morale. The others managed to get it through and tried to do their best. Sadly, in the end...
I breathed hard, the vision ended in time with the timer ending the first half. Our players walked to the bench and I gave them their bottle and towel. Coach and I stood up and we all walked to the locker room for our ten minutes break.
"Kamenori's not bad, they managed to make a tie..." Coach Nakatani uttered. "With this situation at hand, we've to think of a better way to destroy the balance"
I stood up from my seat while they were executing a game plan for the second half. "Coach, can I give them something?" I asked while advancing to my locker.
He just nodded, because his main attention was with the players gathered around. I shrugged and turned to my locker, opening it to get the honey-dipped lemons which I prepared earlier. I fake a cough to get their attention.
"Uh, here... I prepared this for today's match," I handed it out to them. Otsubo-senpai opened it revealing the yellow fruit clad in golden honey. They stared at each other, waiting for someone to dig in first.
"Whoa, it looks delicious, Azami-chan!" Takao remarked, he was the first one to taste it while the others watch him. "Oiishi!"
The others followed suit and wore the same pleased expression. I sighed in relief and just turned back to my locker to close it. All of a sudden, I heard a click which made me look down, only to notice a small device crashed by my heel.
I squatted down and reach for it, "What's this?" I examined it thoroughly, only to found out that it was a listening device.
They're cheating?