Guest Review Replies:
(Review received on 28th June 2014)
Yana: Hm, Rokuro's first interaction with basketball… Well, I was actually planning on providing a back-story for that on a later date, so I hope you'll continue to read until then…? And yes, the names 'Kuroko' and 'Rokuro' are pretty similar. I actually laughed to myself when a wild idea struck me once: What if Rokuro somehow took on Kuroko's surname? She'd be Kuroko Rokuro- a bit of a tongue twister. Haha!
(Review received n 29th June 2014)
TripleL.L: Thank you for your lovely comments. I appreciate the fact that you think Rokuro is unique!
(Review received on 30th June 2014)
Eien no Ajisai: Yeah, logging in can be a pain sometimes...Stupid CAPTCHAs and all- They are a necessary evil. I recognise your penname by the way, I really like your Shingeki no Kyojin story! :D Araki Kanae is related to Araki Masako- she's her niece in fact. However, she isn't canon, and is of my own creation. I find Masako awesome though, so yeah.
(Review received on 3rd July 2014)
hlflores: First of all, wow! Thank you for taking such time to type up this review. I really appreciate it when readers express their thoughts on my work! Also, please don't be sorry, I feel that comments, good or bad, are all meant to make me strive to improve.
I'm glad you like my portrayal of Kise. (Judging by your nickname for him, I'll assume he's your favourite character. ;D) He really is a wonderful character. People make him out to be a total idiot sometimes though- which is a little sad. I had the impression that Fujimaki was setting him up for great things, and one of my favourite matches was the Kaijou vs. Touou match- seriously, it was bloody epic!
I have always felt that there were some tensions about Kise's place on the Kaijou team before the Seirin practice match, especially due to Coach Takeuchi's initial attitude about him, and I enjoyed giving a glimpse of that, along with their determination as a team after their momentous defeat, and how they built that resolve. Kasamatsu had to start coordinating better with Kise at some point right? – It was an important moment for Kaijou's development!
Regarding Momoi: I apologise if she appeared a little out of character in the last chapter. However, I do have my reasons; that was how I visualised that their entire interaction would go: A little awkward because of Aomine and Kuroko's current relationship, yet there would still be their usual chemistry and familiarity between characters. Momoi was important, because she had the ability to keep the situation from souring by displaying an exaggerated (yet maybe not) attitude towards Kuroko- The purposeful humor element if you will. If she hadn't acted out and changed the topic, Aomine, Kise and Kuroko would have gotten into an argument eventually. After all, Kuroko strongly disagrees with Aomine's style of basketball, and Kise too, is slowly but steadily changing under his influence. I don't often write it in, but characters often behave with a purpose in my stories. In a way, they're more calculative.
Besides, she's a girl in love, and I'm of the opinion that although responsible and with a good head on her shoulders, she still can't help but be influenced by her emotions when it comes to her crush. Her open affections for Kuroko regardless of time or place (Seirin's first meeting with her for example) also implies that she isn't afraid to let her emotions and vulnerabilities show, because she's outspoken like that; this also reflects her level of confidence as a character. She also ended up showing her self-confidence and pride as a woman and the most important bit: the crazy yet warm relationship between her and Aomine- She's taken a lot of trouble to help him track down his 'mystery girl' after all.
I'm so happy that you noticed Hachiouji and Aomine's similarities! Of course, there are a few key differences between them that will make themselves obvious as the story progresses; hence, the story's title Synonymous, because a synonym is something that is similar, but not entirely the same.
I hope that clears things up a bit. Of course, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me!
Once again, thank you to all those who reviewed, favourited and alerted! Your responses are much appreciated! They leave me all fuzzy inside~!
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroko no Basuke. I DO own Hachiouji Rokuro and any non-recognisable characters though.
Previously…
With a flourish, the raven haired male whipped out a piece of fluttering paper, shoving it in the crimson eyed girl's face with a devious, shit-eating grin. Rokuro stared at it, unsure what to make of the crumpled stationery due to his irritatingly excessive movements.
"I signed us up for the Mixed Basketball Tournament!" He declared, obviously quite proud of himself.
All movement ceased.
"…"
"…"
"…What?"
"…Please tell me that this is another one of your wild delusions." Rokuro said, her smile slipping from her face completely. She straightened her posture, highlighting the seven centimetre height difference between herself and the current source of her ire with startling ease.
Moriyama simply laughed airily, not one to be intimidated (Though admittedly, he was a little scared.) He continued to regard Hachiouji with an expectant air, rocking back and forth on the soles of his feet like a child.
The raven haired third year was infinitely pleased with himself.
Rokuro resisted the urge to scowl, knowing that it was unbecoming to do so. She really wasn't one for violence, but dear god the idea was so tempting…
Kasamatsu remained silent, not bothering to interfere. He was unaffected by such a bold move on Moriyama's part- His friend had probably been suspicious of Hachiouji for awhile now, he bet.
He knew that there were never hard facts about Hachiouji circulating among his team, but what there were, were speculations. It didn't help that the Women's team was so very tight-lipped about their wayward ace, especially regarding the circumstances behind her rather abrupt resignation from the team.
Of course, the reason behind Kasamatsu's knowledge was purely circumstantial; In the end, he was still the captain of the club Hachiouji had decided to join post her resignation, and was obligated to know about her circumstances at the time. He was sure that Hachiouji would've happily become a part of the 'going-home' club if it wasn't for Kaijou High School's policy, which demanded student club participation as a minimum requirement during their tenure of study.
The third year would freely admit that, while it was none of his business whether the second year girl decided to divulge such information or not, it also wasn't his right to stop his teammates from getting curious.
Besides, he mused, eying Hachiouji's annoyed face with a growing bubble of amusement- this was fun.
'Serves her right for being such a pain in the ass.' The Kaijou captain suppressed a smirk.
Moriyama Yoshitaka was actually quite intelligent when it came down to it, despite his more...moronic qualities. In fact, the raven haired male was rather formidable when it came to dealing with people.
It was the one reason the steel blue eyed captain of Kaijou often sought him out to handle the more wild members of the team- like Hayakawa for instance. Although unsure of the method, he knew that the shooting guard was well practised in the art of ...persuading certain individuals- dishing out creative punishments that had his victims cowering indefinitely.
The shooting guard's skills were impressive enough to warrant Hayakawa running to Kasamatsu once, begging to be spared. (There was somehow a digital recorder involved, but the captain really was not one to judge. Hayakawa had been behaving like an idiot anyway.)
Honestly, Kasamatsu couldn't decide whether Moriyama was a sadist or plain masochistic; especially with the way he pined after girls, which often included harsh and cruel rejections that resulted in the poor sap crying and moping for days on end.
In truth, the only reason that the shooting guard wasn't vice-captain was probably because he wasn't capable of putting aside his girl-crazy tendencies.
Yukio had to admit though, his fellow third years quite readily made an effective leadership team when the situation called for it: While Moriyama was the smooth manipulator who could orchestrate desirable outcomes, Kobori was the stand-in leader that the regulars turned to for guidance. They were ideal substitutes for when Kasamatsu was unavailable. [1]
"…Why me, exactly?" Yukio could practically see the girl caving a little, her eyes darting from their proof-of-registration form towards the devious third year furtively. She must've been itching to play for awhile now, Kasamatsu realised- Usually, she'd be more resistant and cautious.
"Well, the rules state that only a mixed team can participate." Moriyama explained happily, that godforsaken grin still plastered on his handsome face. He could sense that he was getting somewhere with this. "And well, you are a girl-" Kasamatsu snorted disbelievingly at that. "-Therefore, we need you to enter!"
Rokuro resisted the urge to grimace. "…And thus, you decide to register us without informing me." She concluded unhappily, the characters of her name glaring up at her mockingly from the hastily filled out form.
Ugh, his penmanship was terrible…
"There's a free year's subscription to Basketball Monthly as the first prize~!" Moriyama threw in tauntingly, completely ignoring the girl's current discontent; he was too busy trying to convince her to go along with the entire fiasco.
Rokuro hummed quietly in acknowledgement at that. No wonder Kasamatsu had agreed to enter too, despite his previous misgivings about the tournament. It wasn't surprising that the Captain would be attracted to such an interesting prize.
For some players, Basketball Monthly was practically the bible, but unfortunately, it didn't come cheap.
'I can see the allure, but regretfully, it really isn't my concern, so what makes him think that I would actually go along with thi-' She paused mid-thought, her eyes latching upon a particular detail on the form with great interest.
'…T-This is…' She thought, with no small amount of surprise and excitement, her expression evidently bright.
"I'll treat you to a Strawberry sundae after this, promise!" Moriyama coaxed sweetly, not noticing her brief lapse in attention, or at least, pretended not to. "Come on, Hachi-chan, we need you! It's your beloved senpai's last cultural festival! And we really want to have something to remember it by! I swear it'll be the single, most momentous event of your entire high school life!"
"Alright."
"…E-Eh?"
"Alright, I agree to play." Rokuro repeated, noting the peculiar looks her companions were casting her. Kise for one, seemed particularly gobsmacked, judging by his unhinged jaw and widened eyes.
From beside the blond, Kuroko gave her a tiny smile tinged with hints of anticipation and encouragement- one that she studiously tried to ignore.
"So your name is Momoi Satsuki-chan? That's a beautiful name!"
"A-Ah, thank you."
"Anything for a lovely lady~! Hey, can I take a picture of you to prove to all my friends that angels do exist? Oh, but I'm not sure if that will work, what if my camera falls in love with you~?"
"U-Uh…"
'…Saa, what an idiot.' Rokuro mused from afar, abandoning her current reading material in favour of watching Moriyama flirt shamelessly with an uncomfortable looking Momoi.
From what she could see, the younger girl was looking distinctly more and more disturbed by the minute, and Kise's poorly concealed snickering was doing nothing to ease the situation. Kuroko looked amused if ever-silent, while both Aomine and Kasamatsu were rolling their eyes in boredom and exasperation respectively.
Rokuro herself was seated languidly on a bench, away from the loud cheering audience that had gathered in the gym for the ongoing tournament.
Sighing, she tilted her neck to the side, shifting her champagne coloured hair out of the way. The tall girl lifted her slender fingers up to knead at the stiff muscle under her skin, suddenly feeling a little tired and not at all that motivated to read.
The three of them, namely Kasamatsu, Moriyama and her, were currently waiting there on stand-by. She had been the only one of their group to decline watching the ongoing matches though, knowing full well that they probably weren't worth her time.
"…I'm surprised that you're going along with all this." Aomine commented with a drawl, walking up to her with a flat expression. There was a tinge of condescension in his tone as usual. It was a trait he never seemed to do without.
Much like her, Aomine had been quick to ditch being a spectator, having deemed the ongoing games too boring to be worthy of his attention.
He observed her lean muscled figure with a keen observant eye, searching.
This entire situation with Hachiouji Rokuro was both confusing and irritating. He wasn't used to going around wedging himself in other people's affairs. Be that as it may, the odd feelings he constantly experienced while around her were eating away at him, egging him into seeking the older girl out whenever he could.
'Tch, all of this is too freakin' complicated.' He thought with a click of his tongue, scowling deeply.
Grudgingly, more than once he had been tempted to just drop the entire thing regarding Hachiouji, especially in the wake of Satsuki's incessant pestering on the subject- something about young love or whatnot. But alas, the more he considered her, the more such an inclination became impossible.
He wasn't jumping to conclusions. No, of course not. Contrary to his lack of enthusiasm towards academics, he wasn't a total idiot.
Everything he knew about her: physical appearance, flirtatious behaviour, whether she liked Horikita Mai or not- all of that stuff didn't actually matter that much. Those things were more amusing than important. He had rather stringent and distinct preferences anyway, so really, she didn't quite fit the bill for him; Satsuki was an idiot for thinking that he was actually interested in her romantically.
No. It was definitely something else that got him going, and in his opinion, it was far more important than some sickeningly sweet episode of teenage romance.
In fact, his instincts were actually screaming at him. Telling him that she was a threat, someone he shouldn't like. They were too similar somehow and the aura she had about her made him dislike her even more. It was strange, to feel interest and distaste at the same time.
If he could put it in measurable terms, the experience was almost like how he'd realised that he'd bought the same issue of Horikita Mai twice that one time by accident.
Aomine wasn't sure how to feel about suddenly finding that his place on his exhaustively high pedestal was actually right next to another. However, wherein she seemed to have given up a long time ago, he was still tentatively peering down, silently in wait for someone to reach him.
Nonetheless, he was intrigued. And Aomine didn't ignore things that interested him.
Said girl raised a brow at his comment, genuinely curious yet undeniably wary. She could tell that the navy haired male was fishing for something behind his dull façade. He had quite readily deserted his companions just to come talk to her after all.
"Oh? And why is that?" She asked, not portraying any sort of unease whatsoever.
Aomine shrugged carelessly, his cobalt eyes darting briefly back to the crowd.
"You just don't strike me as the type." He replied simply, hitting a hidden nerve with disconcerting ease. You know this is a waste of your time...
Rokuro gave him a tight smile, feeling a little vexed. She could see what he was hinting at, but by no means was she comfortable with it.
"We've only met once before prior to today." She stated factually, feigning disinterest by returning to her novel as she spoke. She refused to give him any more leverage. "You must be rather adept at reading people, Aomine-san." The sarcasm was there, and a tinge of animosity too.
The navy haired male smirked arrogantly, his eyes taking on a predatory glint that had Rokuro suddenly tensing. She did well to conceal her growing discomfort when he leaned down to address her in a deceptively casual manner.
"Nope, not at all." He said lowly, his eyes boring down on her. "I'm just good at reading me." [2]
Straightening once more, the tan skinned male gave a lazy wave as he turned to walk away, his slouched posture erasing all traces of his previously menacing countenance.
"I'll definitely be watching, senpai." He called back. 'Let's see if you can put on another show.'
She stared after his retreating figure, her face schooled unnaturally blank.
"…Are you sure you're okay with playing in that?" Kasamatsu asked, eying Rokuro's form dubiously. The pair of them were making their way towards their designated court amidst the cheers and bustling of the crowd, ignoring Moriyama who was busying himself with making googly eyes at an unreceptive Momoi.
The tournament was actually a little more interesting than Yukio had initially anticipated, with more competitors and spectators than one would hope to expect from a class-organised event. It was still small of course, but there was an impressive turnout anyway.
Kasamatsu even recognised some familiar faces from the basketball club among the other participants.
The entire thing was set up into two small blocks, block A and block B, with four teams of three players in each. This made it a total of eight teams participating. The teams were then randomly numbered 1 through 4 for each block, and the corresponding numbers were pitted against each other. Naturally, the winner of each round proceeded to the final round.
Rokuro merely shrugged in answer to his question, rather unaffected by the older male's gruff concern.
"Unfortunately, I'm quite limited in my choices thus far." She answered, gesturing down at her school blouse, grey skirt and leather loafers with a sweep of her hand. "My Physical Education apparel is at home, I'm afraid."
Kasamatsu gave her a look, unsatisfied with her answer. 'You're just asking for something bad to happen, idiot.'
"…Would you rather I play in a maid uniform instead?" She teased, noting his displeased expression.
Kasamatsu sputtered, obviously imagining it.
"S-Shut up! Don't be stupid, stupid!" he snapped, glaring at her, "I hope you know that I'm not liable if something happens out there."
Rokuro chuckled, her signature fox-like expression making its appearance once more as her hands moved to remove her jet silk tie from her neck.
"Please do not worry, I've taken precautions." She answered confidently, unaffected by his sceptical look. Kasamatsu felt his eyes widen in panic when her slender fingers moved to flip her skirt up teasingly, revealing a pair of black spandex shorts, "See~?"
"PULL YOUR SKIRT DOWN DAMN IT!"
"The match between Team A-4 and Team B-4 will now begin! Will all spectators please clear the courts!" The announcer called out, signalling the start of the match as the six players gathered around the official for the tip-off. Some of the crowd murmured in astonishment, realising that the girl of Team B-4 was taller than both her male teammates- It was an unusual sight indeed.
Kasamatsu crouched low on his knees, assessing his opponents carefully. His fingers kneaded at the material of his signature socks out of habit. He was dressed in his regular gym clothes, consisting of a pair of basketball shorts and a black t-shirt.
The other team comprised of three interesting players: Kishimoto Sousuke, Toshiyuki Kenji and a girl named Momi Ami. Yukio wasn't so sure about Momi. (Seriously, 'fir tree'?) He had seen her around the female team often though, which was good enough for him. Kishimoto and Toshiyuki on the other hand, were non-regulars of the Kaijou Basketball club. They were impressive in their own right, and were both choice reserve players right next to Nakamura. These three, along with Kise and Hayakawa, would be the ones to fill the holes left when he and the other third years retired from the club at the end of the year.
Rokuro merely smiled, opting to glance at Moriyama who was still attempting to gain Momoi's attention with cheesy outlandish gestures. The third year never learned.
"It's hard to believe that we'll be facing off against you guys, captain." Toshiyuki grinned in a friendly manner, holding his hand out for the customary shake. He had been elected leader of his team due to his aptitude for strategy. The second year stood at an average height, with dark green eyes and tan coloured hair.
"Same here." Kasamatsu took it firmly with a nod, before narrowing his gaze dangerously. "Just so you know, I'll be kicking both your asses for ditching practice last week." He warned sternly, glancing between him and Kishimoto disapprovingly.
Toshiyuki flinched, sweatdropping at the third year. He was quite sure that the both of them had paid for it in blood at their last practice, but wasn't sure if he should mention it.
"…U-Uh, y-yes…" He replied meekly, quickly deciding that it was better to refrain from evoking Kasamatsu's legendary temper. The austere male looked downright terrifying at the moment.
The referee blew the whistle, signalling for the players to stand at a ready. Rokuro smiled, stepping forward into the jump circle. She was wordlessly volunteering to be the jumper for the game, earning surprised looks from her current opponents.
"Eh, Manager-san?!" Kishimoto blurted out, having moved forward himself. He was the tallest of his team, his height reaching just about six feet, making him the natural choice for the position of centre in his team. He had light auburn hair and a pair of wide brown eyes, reflecting his youth and naiveté as a first year student.
Obviously, the younger male was under the impression that Rokuro possessed minimal experience with actual playing. None of them had expected her to act so boldly by volunteering for the tip-off of all things.
'And what's with her outfit?! The school uniform?! Don't tell me she's really going to play in that?!'
Before he could inquire further, the official tossed the ball in the air, blowing sharply into his whistle once more for good measure.
His reaction was almost instinctual as Kishimoto jumped for the live ball, easily smacking it towards an awaiting Toshiyuki, only to realise that something was very much amiss.
Even the audience was riddled with confusion at Hachiouji's unexpectedly low jump. Most would agree that her natural height over Kishimoto should have given her a very large advantage.
'In fact, it's almost like she's hardly jumping at all…' Toshiyuki observed with furrowed brows from his place on the ground, ever the strategist. He easily received the ball as it was smacked towards him.
Such behaviour was probably natural, the second year male concluded, his eyes darting around the court to determine the best pass course. If she was as inexperienced as they knew she was, it would be daunting for her to even attempt to snatch the ball, let alone grapple for it against an experience player like Kishimoto.
"Idiot! Stop playing around!" He heard Kasamatsu yell out in irritation, upset at Hachiouji's blunder. Toshiyuki ignored it.
'Huh. Does she even know how to play?' Momi thought from her own position a few metres away, staring at the taller girl with much pity. As a first year member of the Kaijou Women's basketball club, she was a fairly experienced player herself. Araki-senpai had even mentioned putting her in official matches once, a fact that she was very proud of considering that she was only a rookie who started playing this year. The copper haired girl had decided to participate in the match when her good friend Kishimoto had approached her about it, seeing no harm.
Momi had to admit: It was disappointing (and a little irritating) that the girl who had so brazenly assumed the role of a jumper would fail to graze the ball so much with a single finger. Then again, it did make the grave disadvantage of playing against the famed Kaijou Men's basketball captain Kasamatsu and shooting guard Moriyama less daunting.
Momi was skilled, but not skilled enough to go unbothered by the two Kaijou Regulars' intimidating presences.
It was the moment when both Jumpers landed on their feet that Hachiouji's smile widened and everything changed.
'W-What the hell?!' The occupants of the gym thought in shock. It had happened so fast, that barely anyone had caught the movement.
It was the exact second that she had landed on her feet from that little leap, Momi realised, staring with wide onyx eyes at the scene.
Hachiouji had moved akin to lightning- A fact probably attributed by her low jump height, one could argue. Nonetheless, her speed was still incredibly unnatural.
Before Toshiyuki, who had been the recipient of the ball could so much as blink, Hachiouji had pivoted, advancing upon him with deadly purpose. She was incredibly successful in accurately spearing the ball away from him; The motion too fast for the second year boy to lift a single finger.
'J-Just what-!'
Rokuro dribbled the ball as she moved forward, causing Momi to snap out her self-induced stupor. The first year lowered her centre of gravity to assume a strong defensive position. She could vaguely sense her teammates repositioning themselves to do the same.
Undaunted, Hachiouji ploughed on, handling the ball easily with her left hand. She was quick to duck and drive past Momi through an opening on the shorter girl's left, noting a weak spot in her guard.
'W-What is this?! She's super fast!' Momi thought, sweat glistening on her brow as her muscles stiffened in her shock. The only thing her eyes had managed to spot was that discomfiting close-eyed smile of hers.
"Ami!"
The first year girl jerked at her teammate's urgent call, clenching her fists and gritting her teeth in frustration as she glared after the other girl who was now facing off against Toshiyuki-senpai.
She hadn't been able to do anything.
Rokuro readjusted her stance. The tan haired male seized a little when he saw it, examining her form closely before quickly moving in when he spotted what seemed to be an opening, his arm extending to steal away the ball.
Not hesitating for a second, Rokuro bent low. She stepped into his space with her left foot, keeping her hand on the top of the ball as she guided it. Toshiyuki flinched, his own hand flying out to guard her when he assumed that she was going through his left.
Abruptly, she pulled the ball towards her right, not giving her opponent the time to realise that she had faked.
'...A-An Allen Iverson cross over?!' Toshiyuki gaped, identifying the move with some level of shock.
Knowing well that Momi was about to move in from behind her, Rokuro shot the ball under and through Toshiyuki's unguarded legs, smoothly twirling around the tall male and scooping up the ball again from behind him, her knees nearly perpendicular to the floor due to the low height.
Both Toshiyuki and Momi made sounds of disbelief at the appearance of such precise and controlled movements.
Easily, she entered the key of the court, ignoring the varying looks of apprehension and wide eyes. She had made it through the other team's defences like they were nothing.
"Not so fast!" Momi shouted out, dashing after the second year with a burning determination, running past her stunned teammate. She quickly caught up, her stance squared and firm. The short haired girl was hell-bent on stopping her tall opponent from scoring.
'Oh?' Rokuro thought in amusement, subtly quirking a brow, 'What a persistent little puppy...' She was slightly surprised by the girl's unwillingness to give up, and the fact that she had escaped Moriyama's mark on her so easily.
Undaunted, Hachiouji leaped up, only to have the shorter girl immediately follow. The champagne blond leaned her body sharply to the right in response, lifting her right hand and easily tossing the ball up almost carelessly towards the net with a flex of her slender arm.
"T-That form-!" Kise exclaimed in recognition and amazement. Aomine ignored him, a slow but steady grin stretching his lips.
Swoosh!
The scorecard was flipped, awarding Team B-4 the first points scored for the quarter.
"You're unexpectedly useless, Bakayama-senpai." Hachiouji remarked bluntly to her temporary teammate, referring to Moriyama's sloppiness with guarding Momi Ami. It was what had forced her to make that unorthodox shot in the first place.
The three players of Team B-4 were lightly jogging towards their designated positions on the court, readying themselves for the next play.
Moriyama merely grinned mischievously, giving the younger girl an irritatingly outlandish wink. "You can't expect me to mark a girl too seriously, Hachiouji. It's not gentlemanly. Besides, you handled the both of them beautifully~!"
"Moriyama." Kasamatsu growled in warning. He was irritated that the both of them were being so flippant about this, mainly because it was downright disrespectful to their opponents.
From their own area, the opposing team stared at them, postures wrought with worry and unease.
"Kishimoto!" Momi hissed threateningly at her fellow first year, being the first to recover from her shocked stupor. "You didn't tell me that they would be so strong! Especially that manager- Just what is she!?"
"Trust me, I didn't know either! I didn't think Manager-san could even play!" The first year center replied back, panting. He lifted a hand to wipe the sweat from his brow, his brown hair sticking uncomfortably to his skin- Kasamatsu had given him a terribly hard time back there- He had been busy trying to break away from the captain's mark, but even he had seen how fast Hachiouji had been.
"Bull! How could you not know?!"
"I told you I-!"
Toshiyuki remained silent, his brows drawn together in contemplation. Those unstoppable movements were a huge problem for them.
"Oi, focus." The impromptu leader of the team commanded the bickering first year pair. "We've already got the odds stacked against us, so don't go losing your cool. Hachiouji's speed is one thing, but Captain and Moriyama-senpai are national level players too. We need a plan."
Immediately, Momi and Kishimoto ceased their small argument, turning to stare at the older male expectantly.
Exhaling slowly, Toshiyuki narrowed his forest green eyes.
"Alright, here's what we'll do…"
"Tch, don't get too cocky! This time I'll definitely beat you!" Momi declared, pointing her finger at her current mark in obvious challenge.
Rokuro merely smiled at the younger girl, completely unaffected by her bold declaration. In fact, it was amusing as anything- She was oddly reminded of a Toy dog's incessant yipping.
"Ah! Team B-4's got the ball!" Someone from the crowd yelled out, narrating the situation on the court.
"Oi! Hachiouji!" Kasamatsu hollered, passing the ball to the girl swiftly. He was unable to break through Kishimoto's impressive defence without incurring some kind of ball handling violation.
Catching it with ease, the champagne blond bounced it a few times, adjusting to the feel of the ball as she readied herself for another round. Carefully, she watched Momi, noting the peculiarity of her opponent's stance. The younger girl was attempting to force Hachiouji to drive by her left and straight towards the baseline, not leaving any room for her to pass through the shorter girl's middle.
It was highly obvious that she was trying to force her into a straight-line drive to the baseline, wherein an awaiting Toshiyuki was crouched in front of Moriyama. It was an impressive strategy considering their circumstances.
In a usual game, an opponent would jump straight into having two or three people mark her while they thinned out the other players, but considering that this was a three-on-three, that was largely impossible. Both the teams were already severely imbalanced in terms of skill. However, from what she had seen, Momi had the best chances of stopping her out of the three of them.
'At least Toshiyuki-kun is using that brain of his.' She mused, before opening her mouth to speak.
"…Saa,"
Momi tensed, eying her smiling opponent warily. The older girl was definitely up to something…
"Let me teach you something as a senpai, Koinu-chan." [3] Rokuro chimed pleasantly, her shoulders squaring as she addressed the younger player in a taunting manner, still easily dribbling the ball.
Momi bit her lip to calm her nerves; firmly squashing the sudden onset of unease at the taller girl's sly simper. There was just something in her expression that unnerved the rookie greatly.
"The only one who can beat me…" She intoned evenly, lowering her knees. The tall girl was quick to fling the ball past Momi and into an empty space between her and Toshiyuki, as if vainly attempting to pass it to Moriyama.
"Oi! What are you doing?! Moriyama isn't free, damn it!"
The first year felt her eyes widen when she saw this. 'What?! Just where the hell is she throwing that?! It's like she wants Toshiyuki-senpai to get the ball!'
Seizing the chance provided by Momi's momentary shock, Rokuro hopped backwards, quickly breaking away from the shorter girl's guard and giving herself some much needed space. She quickly dashed past the younger girl once she was out of reach, catching up to the wayward ball in less than two seconds flat.
"…Is me." She finished resolutely, her hand shooting out to scoop up the ball. Smoothly, she transitioned into the customary stance for a high arc jump shot, not giving anyone a single beat to recover.
Swoosh!
This time, the crowd went wild.
"Her speed is incredible!" Momoi murmured just above a whisper, her carmine coloured eyes open with wonder and awe.
The Touou manager allowed her jaw to loosen in complete disbelief, her sharp mind struggling to comprehend what had just occurred: Hachiouji had caught up with the ball before any of her opponents or teammates could, despite the fact that she needed to break away from Momi's guard first.
In a usual game, Toshiyuki Kenji would have definitely caught the wayward ball, even if he had been thrown off by the unexpectedness of it all and had been slow to react. It just came down to the fact that most players were trained to react immediately once the ball was in motion and that the ball was heading towards him. However, Hachiouji had moved just that much faster, and had beaten the free player to it by a large margin.
Even Moriyama-san, who was in an infinitely better position to grab the ball despite being effectively blocked by Toshiyuki, had been too startled to move.
It was a crazy manoeuvre that not just anyone could pull off.
Momoi allowed her eyes to drift towards a highly focused looking Aomine, a contemplative expression on her attractive face, 'It might be due to her weight class and lighter build, but right now... she's even faster than Dai-chan…'
"…Kurokocchi, why didn't you tell me Hachiouji-senpai played?" Kise asked his former teammate in a voice tinged with wonderment, his amber eyes following the ongoing game intently. The entire spectacle was almost painfully one sided, with Team B-4 continuing to completely obliterate their opponents.
He knew that the opposing team was doing a good job of resisting, having attempted to adjust their formation to account for Hachiouji's crazy speed and unpredictable play style. It was obvious in the way that they were having Momi take her on. The rookie player was lighter than her teammates and therefore had the best chance of keeping up with Hachiouji's speed.
However, he was positive that the strategy wouldn't last; there was simply just too large a difference in skill.
Hachiouji was playing well, more than well actually, and she was undeniably strong. In fact, there was something quite frightening yet undeniably familiar about her play, so much so that it sent him reeling a little.
There was another roar from the crowd as Rokuro once again scored a deceptively easy basket, causing Kise to flinch.
The scene made the first year Kaijou Ace's stomach feel queasy. It was a strong reminder of those days; Back when everything was lifeless and dull.
'It's like she's another Aominecchi...'
"…" Kuroko didn't answer, his face stony and blank. Concerned by his silence, the taller blond turned to look at his teammate, noting that the shorter boy was unnaturally pale, his pupils dilated and his breathing uneven. Instantly, he was tempted to extend a hand in order to shake the Seirin player out of it, but something regarding Kuroko's expression forced him to hesitate.
He knew that if he reached out now, the shorter boy would break.
Kise faced forward again, expression solemn.
For once, the famed model remained silent.
'What is this…?'
Rokuro scored yet again, breezing past her opponents with ease.
'W-Who is that..?'
…Her basketball… It was different.
She performed a fake, fooling her opponent into stepping to the right, before ducking and cutting towards the left. She was impeded by Kishimoto, only to bounce the ball between her own two legs and guide it behind her back, sending it to her far left in a perfectly executed Jamal Crawford Double Crossover.
'Did she used to play like this?'
Rokuro allowed her lips to stretch into a smile once more as she yet again overpowered another member of the opposing team, bouncing the ball against the floor twice before flicking her wrist and sending it between her own two legs. Her other hand was there to guide it back, and just as she did so, she dashed past her opponent with a sudden burst of speed.
Kuroko watched as the girl (Momi Ami, he faintly recalled) from the opposing team gasped desperately for breath, wiping the sweat from her brow with the collar of her shirt. The solid strategy Team A-4 had conjured up was falling apart right before their very eyes. Rokuro wasn't giving them a single chance to recover, yet alone regroup. She was breaking them mentally, and was being smug about it, driving them into a corner with disturbing ease. He could see it in their wild eyes and paling countenances.
...He couldn't imagine that being right. No, that was not how he remembered her basketball.
'No, no, no! Please! Stop that! Don't smile like that!'
Kuroko stepped forward, unthinking. He swallowed thickly, his eyes wide and unfocused as he watched the grossly one-sided game, not noticing Kise's concerned look in the slightest.
...It was so, so different.
Her eyes: they were still that rich lovely colour that he so vividly remembered. Yes, they were indeed- Like fine red wine, he often found himself thinking. However, there was something inherently wrong with them, something so incredibly wrong.
'S-Stop…'
He watched as they darkened to a menacing blood red, her agile form breezing past a stunned and very pale looking Toshiyuki; that empty smiling expression was plastered firmly across her face. It reminded him of one of those plastic dolls he had seen so often with her at the toy store as children.
'Please stop…'
…Those...Those were eyes of the dead.
...Just so. so. Dead.
She made yet another seamless basket.
'STOP IT! ROKU-NEE!'
BEEEEP!
"32 - 8! Winner: Team B-4!"
It seemed as if Team B-4 were well on their way to becoming the favourites of the entire tournament. Their overbearing victory in their previous match had left the crowd hollering for more, eager to see the spectacular skills of the three-man team's female ace.
"That's her isn't it? That awesome player who completely obliterated the last match!"
"Holy shit, she's tall!"
"Just how tall is that?! She must be over six feet!"
"From the way they're talking, you'd think they'd never seen a girl play basketball before." Moriyama teased, slinging a muscular arm around Hachiouji's slender shoulders in an amiable manner, leaning some of his weight against her taller frame.
"Sakiyama-senpai, you're kind of heavy." Rokuro responded, glancing at her teammate briefly, the only sign that she was remotely bothered. The older male laughed her off, commenting jokingly about how regular girls were usually more worried about his sweat.
Kasamatsu remained silent, his expression pensive as he watched the tournament staff prepare the court for the next game.
He had to admit, this entire situation was bordering on ridiculous. Team B-4 was breezing through the tournament like it was nothing. Moriyama and him weren't even trying that hard...
...Well, then again, it was more like they couldn't.
So far, Hachiouji was the reason they had gotten into the finals of the tournament. She was single-handedly suppressing all of their opponents on her own. It was a gross testament to her skill... and her playing style.
He released a tired sigh. Kasamatsu wasn't even sure if she was taking the entire thing seriously.
He couldn't refute it, he really couldn't. Hachiouji Rokuro was good.
However, there was something else that the raven haired male had noticed. It was almost glaringly obvious, and was probably the main reason that she had left the Kaijou Women's team last year:
Her basketball, if he could even call it that, wasn't something meant for regular courts. The plays she made were built for her and her alone. There was hardly any teamwork involved, and that was something Kasamatsu could hardly say he liked.
'Tch, it does says a lot though,' He relented, glancing at his team manager thoughtfully, thoughts drifting towards her former team. 'If they were willing to put up with that sort of style for nearly a year, their dedication must be the real deal.' It was the thirst to win that drove people to persevere and do stupid crap like that after all.
He really couldn't fault them for such a thing, not when he himself was pinning his hopes on a certain blond first year. It was obvious though that the Women's team captain had lost control of the situation when dealing with Hachiouji. It was a good lesson for him to keep in mind. (Not that he would need it- Kise was actually a pretty good kid despite his quirks.)
"Oh! If it isn't Kasamatsu!"
The raven haired captain lifted his head in response, turning to locate the source of the friendly greeting.
He felt his brows lift in utter surprise.
"...Sakamoto-senpai?" [4]
"Whoa! Kasamatsu, you landed a good one, huh?" Sakamoto teased loudly, watching with impressed eyes just as Rokuro made a three pointer with stunning ease. Kasamatsu blushed, sputtering nonsensically at the older male.
"Please don't say stuff like that, senpai!" The raven haired third year responded desperately, all the while trying not to drop his guard. The team they were playing against, Team A-2, was proving to be significantly more formidable than their last opponents.
It was a given, he supposed- They had Sakamoto, an ex-regular of Kaijou on their team after all. Kishimoto, Toshiyuki and Momi were good, but they were still fairly green when it came down to it (Not to mention, Rokuro didn't exactly help their situation either). Sakamoto-senpai on the other hand, was far more experienced in the game; He was a great player in his own right.
Sakamoto Ryuchi was a tall male with spiky mahogany coloured hair, hazel eyes and a large stocky build. He was also somewhat of a friend of Kasamatsu's, and someone that the Kaijou captain deeply respected. He had been one of the few seniors who had forgiven Yukio for his major fumble last year, the one that had cost Kaijou the entire Inter-High.
Naturally, that single pardon meant more to him than the older male could ever know, especially since some of his senpai still weren't talking to him...
Abruptly, Kasamatsu shot his hand out, snatching the ball mid course.
"Man! He's quick! As expected of Kasamatsu!" A member of the crowd exclaimed, just as the raven haired Kaijou captain attempted to dash past his guard. The nameless player closed in, attempting to thwart his movements, but such a move proved utterly useless. Smoothly, Yukio slipped into his signature drive, overtaking his opponent before the other could react.
"Not so fast!" He heard the shout.
Kasamatsu grunted, making the basket with some difficulty. His previous opponent had been quick to catch up to him right after, nearly blocking his shot.
'Senpai's teammates aren't too bad either...' The steel blue eyed male thought, slightly impressed.
"Oh?" Sakamoto whistled lowly, walking up to him. "You've gotten pretty good too, eh? That drive is really something!" He complimented the younger male with a grin, impressed by Yukio's well executed performance. "You're gonna be a challenge to beat at this rate!" The college-aged male exclaimed boisterously, slapping the younger on the back.
Kasamatsu resisted the urge to grin like a fool; It wasn't everyday he got a compliment from someone he respected after all.
"You haven't seen anything yet." The famed Kaijou point guard responded challengingly, smirking up at the elder. Sakamoto returned the look in response, patting the younger male on the shoulder heartily.
"Go ahead and show me all you've got!"
Rokuro watched passively as Moriyama easily scored, directing a cheesy wink at the crowd, or more specifically Momoi. The scorecard was once again flipped, bringing the score up to 19 - 8. They were well into the third quarter of the game.
She sighed, wiping the perspiration from her face with a flick of her hand. The game had actually been a challenge at first, something she hadn't expected, though the odd spell had ended swiftly once she started exerting some form of effort.
From what she had seen so far, the only one on the opposing team who posed even a little bit of a hurdle was Kasamatsu-senpai's senior, Sake-something or a rather.
Sadly, however, from the looks of it, it didn't seem as if even he would last much longer.
She watched from where she stood as the older male clutched desperately at his knees in a hunched crouch, taking a minute to absorb the mahogany haired male's exhausted form. It wasn't so much the exhaustion setting into his muscles and reflecting on his countenance, or his sweat drenched clothes that had her wary (because everyone else was in a similar state more or less).
No, it was that dark look in his eyes, the one that was filled with debilitating self-doubt.
It didn't bode well when his pupils kept swerving towards the scorecards like that either.
Rokuro remained impassive as she watched her older opponent worry himself into a tizzy over the score. The glaring eleven point difference was a hard pill to swallow for most, and he didn't seem to be taking it well.
Her assumptions were confirmed when the point difference eventually reached a sizeable seventeen in number. The descent had been gradual, but oh so discernible.
She watched the entire sequence of events with a taciturn indifference; Watched as the older player failed to intercept the ball, simply letting it fly by him, as if it hadn't just been there for the taking.
From a strategic point of view, that moment would have been the prime opportunity to make a comeback, to narrow the point difference, even if by just a little. But, Rokuro knew that would never happen- that lifeless form had ceased moving, eyes forever shadowed and shamelessly relying on his teammates to pull his deadweight.
She had seen it countless of times on the court: That distress, that hopelessness, that devastation. He was wallowing in defeat, practically drowning in it- so much so that even Yukio had begun to notice, casting a look filled with worry at the older male.
'As expected, playing was a bad idea after all.' She thought dully, easily receiving the ball as it made its way towards her.
They were well into the fourth quarter, the game nearing its end, when an unexpected twist came to pass:
"I forfeit." A melodic voice chimed, swiftly cutting through the growing dreary atmosphere of the match like a well sharpened knife.
All of the players on the court froze, eyes darting automatically towards a nonchalant looking Rokuro.
The second year girl had her hand up in the air, a telltale sign that Kasamatsu had not misheard.
The raven haired captain blanched, his jaw unhinging at the outlandish second year with complete bafflement.
'Did she just-?!'
"Referee. I forfeit." Rokuro repeated patiently, striding up to the stunned official confidently, reconfirming Kasamatsu's thoughts.
There was a silence before incredulity settled in among everyone.
"...W-Wait a minute, Hachi-chan!" Moriyama protested, stepping forward to confront his teammate. However, he was stopped by Kasamatsu's outstretched hand.
"...What is the meaning of this, Hachiouji?" He interrogated. His expression was steely, not revealing a trace of the thoughts that lay underneath.
"Saa. This game...It's good enough, isn't it senpai?" Hachiouji shrugged carelessly, turning to face both her opponents and teammates. There was a chorus of loud protests from the ignorant crowd, but they fell upon deaf ears.
Pointedly, the girl glanced at Sakamoto, only to have the older bow his head in both despondence and humiliation. She didn't miss the weak expressions of relief on his teammates' faces either.
...How pitiful.
Kasamatsu set his lips into a straight line. He tried to convince himself that he shouldn't be surprised. She was bound to take action eventually. Hachiouji was like that.
This game... It was disappointing to say the least. Sakamoto-senpai... That look in his eyes of utter defeat and loss, those sluggish movements- there were even instances when he would just stop moving all together. The fact that he was Team A-2's point guard and leader was an even bigger blow. The team had fallen completely apart, shattered and in shambles.
He swore that they all looked haunted, almost as if they would never play basketball again.
What had transpired in the last nine minutes was a completely one-sided pummeling, he knew that.
Kasamatsu hadn't wanted to see such a spectacle, ever, but alas it had happened, and the captain wasn't sure who was to blame. Sure, Hachiouji was overwhelming, but he had thought that Sakamoto had more integrity, more strength than that.
Kasamatsu wanted to laugh and shout at the same time. He was angry, but most of all, he was so incredibly frustrated. It was obvious that Sakamoto had lost his fighting spirit, but so had Hachiouji, and for some reason... He was infinitely more upset about the latter.
He mentally scoffed, 'Did she even have any to begin with?'
Regardless of his innate conflicts, Kasamatsu believed that there were just some things that people shouldn't do, no matter the reason- and purposefully throwing a match was one of them.
"Oh?" His tone was unnervingly calm. Hachiouji resisted the urge to shy away from his heavy, steel blue gaze.
She had known he wouldn't be happy, she really did, but to see such a stoic response was something she hadn't been prepared for.
There was a tense silence as the shorter male stared Rokuro down, his thoughts unreadable.
"...I get it." At that, Kasamatsu moved, walking past the second year girl without further acknowledgement.
"We forfeit." The captain announced firmly to the referee. No one dared to speak out at his authoritative tone, the crowd stunned into silence.
"...Hachiouji," Kasamatsu turned, inflicting her with a cold serious stare.
There was a beat of hesitation, before the captain spoke out:
"...I'm disappointed in you."
Hachiouji flinched.
"Well, I suppose I did get what I wanted…" Rokuro said softly to herself, making her way home all alone. She exited the train station, having left the school before anyone could say anything to her. The tall girl cradled the set of novels to her chest carefully. They were the second prize and one of the reasons she had entered the tournament in the first place.
'In the end, I really did go through a lot of trouble for them.' She thought in dry humour, glancing down at the items in her hands briefly with a hollow gaze. Their weight was surprisingly... discomforting against her hands.
Then again, considering the events of today, she would have been surprised if she'd felt happy about acquiring them at all...
Mercilessly, she swept the earlier disagreement with Kasamatsu to the back of her mind. She really didn't want to deal with that right now.
'...Saa, what happened with Moriyama-senpai on the other hand...' She tightened her grasp on her books at the memory, a strained smile making its way onto her lips.
It had taken her awhile to realise it (unfortunately), but it was evident to her now that she had in fact, been tricked- By Moriyama of all people.
She was reluctant to admit it, but she had no choice. It was the main reason that she was in this situation in the first place.
Contrary to what she had been initially led to believe, Moriyama's intentions hadn't been the first prize of the tournament after all; the fact that he'd shoved the list of prizes in her face so readily when he first approached her about it was proof enough as it was.
No, in fact, what he did want was to get a firsthand glimpse of her skills on the court.
Why exactly, she wasn't sure, but it was disturbing to realise just how easily he had gotten her to do what he wanted.
He had to have known that she had been looking for these novels for awhile, and more importantly, he had to have known her.
He was smart enough to bring Kasamatsu along with him when he approached too. By having the Kaijou captain there, he'd made the so-called reason behind their participation plausible enough- the fact that they had wanted to win the tournament for the first prize. He then stood back and watched as she evaluated the prizes listed, identify the second prize, and in the end, stupidly walk right into the trap.
She had to give Moriyama his props; the man knew how to move people. Honestly, she had been naive to think that she was the one who had outsmarted him.
Unwillingly, Rokuro's grudging respect for the flirtatious senpai grew.
'It's disconcerting to know that this 'read Rokuro' thing is becoming commonplace...' She mused with vague alarm. Her latest conversation with Aomine and this entire incident with Moriyama were proof enough that she was far more transparent than she realised.
...Not to mention that there was still Kasamatsu and Kuroko, both of whom housed a famed affinity for astute observation. [5]
At the thought of the two of them, the Kaijou second year frowned.
[1] Realistically speaking, Kasamatsu is actually insanely capable. He manages a huge club like the Kaijou Basketball Club all by himself after all (Not just the regulars). It's a considerable amount of responsibility on top of his studies. Rokuro helps with menial tasks of course, but she isn't exactly problem-free herself, and I can see Coach Takeuchi being there to simply advise them on conditioning and strategy, all the while supervising club time as an adult.
[2] Aomine's payback from their previous meeting. I just imagined this is how banter between two similar individuals would go, especially when it involves a subject that they're both sensitive about.
[3] Koinu: こいぬ means 'puppy' in Japanese.
[4] Sakamoto Ryuchi: A Kaijou High School alumnus of my own creation. He's a year older than Kasamatsu and Moriyama and was a former regular of the Kaijou Basketball Team.
[5] I know, sharp people everywhere. Why is everyone so pointy?! (Hah! Pun!) Let me explain, I'm of the opinion that these select individuals are sharp in different ways:
Kasamatsu is observant when it comes to basketball strategy and human emotions. The way I see it, he's fairly attentive and caring (even though he'll never ever admit it). It's a skill that comes with being a captain of the Kaijou team. He needs to be 'in-the-know' if people are feeling down or emotionally affected by something that will screw up their performance. Also, he's actually a really sensitive guy, as seen by his few appearances. (D'aaaw) A man among men!
Kuroko meanwhile, is good at observing body language and kinesthetic movement due to his skill with misdirection. However, he doesn't necessarily have the ability to connect these observations to emotions. It's a hit and miss for him really, and that's one of the reasons why he doesn't know why Rokuro has been acting so weird with him recently.
Moriyama is sharp only when he wants to do something mean or when he wants to manipulate people. He pays attention to detail when it counts, but isn't vigilant about it and is easily distracted, thus he observes only small bits of information and not the whole picture. Ergo, he's still an idiot at life and that's why he can't land a girlfriend.
As for Aomine, well, in truth, he only appears insightful this time. He and Rokuro are incredibly similar in mannerisms, and he recognises that because, well, who wouldn't? In this case, he also just took a wild stab (Hah! Another pun!) in the dark, and happened to be right about his observations. He's still sharp when it comes to basketball, but by no means is he as good as Kasamatsu at reading emotions, or Kuroko at reading bodily movement. He doesn't have the patience for that. Besides, he's so good at basketball that he doesn't need these skills for the most part.
~ : Synonymous Q & A : ~
Why does Rokuro address Aomine by his actual name?
Aomine interests her as a potential rival, or at the very least, someone to stave off her constant boredom. Notice that she addressed Midorima correctly back in chapter 9 as well? Rokuro still loves basketball a lot, and so when someone perks her interest regarding the sport, she uses their names as her own way of acknowledgement. She hasn't seen Aomine play, but much like how Aomine can sense something from her, she can sense something about him. She's quite frivolous and prone to teasing though, so addressing them correctly by name may change sometime in the future once she gets to know them better.
Note that she addresses Araki Kanae as 'Araki-senpai' as well, despite not respecting her at all (even going so far as to mock her). However, that relationship is quite complicated, and will be elaborated on later.
It's apparent that Rokuro is insecure about her height, but what happened to make her so angry that she once chucked a water bottle at Hayakawa's face? She doesn't seem like the type to resort to violence…
Hayakawa called her an 'Amazon Woman' one day during practice. Quite frankly, he so deserved it.
Sakurai Sae is obviously related to Sakurai Ryou from Touou. How exactly?
She's his much more outspoken yet still very much apologetic cousin. The trait runs in the family.
Some facts about Sakurai Sae?
Her hobbies are admiring beautiful people, getting angry at Nakamura Shinya and bothering her little cousin with favours and tasks (i.e. bullying him.) Sakurai's considerably better than her in homemaking stuff, so she always goes to him for help. She's the president of the Hachiouji Rokuro fanclub, which has a total of 33 and a 1/2 members at the moment. Most of her impressions of Rokuro are delusions because she's blinded by how good looking and polite Rokuro is. Her motto is "Beauty is Life!"
...Wait, '33 and a 1/2'?
...Yeah. There's a story behind that.
Who's the girl Rokuro played against...?
Momi Ami (樅 麻実) A first year student at Kaijou. She's the little rookie of the Kaijou Women's Basketball Team. She's a little presumptuous and naive. She also hates her last name. Friends with Kishimoto Sousuke from middle school. My nickname for her is 'Mon Ami'. xD
Just to be clear, Rokuro's hobbies are…?
Reading romance/erotica and baking Strawberry sweets. She's not particularly interested in Gravure Idols, but knows about them because of her... Uh, household situation. She also filches ero-magazines from the Kaijou Boys when she's bored.
Rokuro loves Strawberries almost obsessively. Is there anything she hates?
She actually hates chocolate. (I KNOW RIGHT?!) To her, they're an enemy of strawberries. She especially hates chocolate mixed with Strawberries, because to her, the whole mix is evil and ludicrous.
Who inspired Hachiouji Rokuro's personality?
She was inspired by Fuji Syuusuke from Prince of Tennis and Hayami from Minami-ke. In fact, her hair colour is similar to Hayami's, if a shade or two lighter and thus closer to Champagne blond.
Author's Note: And thus, we gain an insight as to what Aomine really thinks about Hachiouji! I like to think that both of them become different people when it comes to basketball, funny interaction aside. Well, at the very least, their personalities take on a different tone. For instance, Aomine becomes more removed, intuitive and analytical while Hachiouji becomes more self-centred, angsty and less emotionally controlled.
Also, yeah, Hachiouji made a huge mistake. Her one good intentioned deed turned out to be a bad one. :(
Note that Kasamatsu isn't right in this situation either, and this incident is an important one for both of them.
By the way, should I begin taking votes on the pairings? I think I should. Look out for a poll on my profile! It'll be up soon, and I'll let you know when! Fluffy Romance will have to wait a little longer, because that's how I planned this story, but I promise it's in the horizon!
Also, questions, comments, critique? All are very welcome! :D
I hope you enjoyed the chapter!