How would the Kiseki Take Care of a Child?
Author's Notes: So when I was finalizing the plot and stuff for this fic, I realized I was nearing the end. So this is just a bonus chapter featuring a loli Kotone from the first fanfic. (More like filler chapter :P )
"Um… you guys we have a problem." Koganei said as he walked into the gymnasium with Kuroko following shortly. Everyone gawked at him.
"Huh, what's the matter?" Hyuga asked.
"Makoto turned small all of the sudden!" he exclaimed. Riko and Hyuga frowned at him, arms crossed and displeased.
"Don't make up silly stories, dumbass." said Hyuga.
"Do you really expect us to believe that? When practice begins it's double your laps."
"I'm not lying, really—"
Everyone paused, silent when Kuroko and Kagami came inside with a tiny little hand grasping onto them. A small girl with rosy cheeks and big brown eyes came staggering in reluctantly. Riko walked up to them.
"Who's this?" she asked.
"She looks just like Makoto." Izuki commented. "Is it a younger sister or cousin?"
Riko shook her head.
"No, Makoto-kun is really the youngest of their entire family." She replied.
"This is Makoto-kun." Kuroko interjected. Their jaws dropped, hanging wide open and their eyes big in shock.
"What?" Riko asked with a bewildered look in her eyes.
"Yeah, this is really Makoto." Kagami repeated.
"Th-these kinds of things can actually happen?!" Hyuga questioned loudly.
"Apparently so." Kuroko uttered. Kiyoshi went over and squatted down to meet Kotone at eye level. She winced and hid herself behind Kagami, holding tightly to his arm.
"She's a lot smaller than before." he commented and then smiled amiably at her. "Eh, what's wrong? Are you shy?"
She said nothing and continued to tremble and cower behind Kagami. Kiyoshi chuckled softly while Riko scratched her head wildly around in sudden anger.
"Gyaaaaaahhhhh! This is really bad! Of all times she had to shrink into a child! We have freaking practice games with the other teams set up today!" she shouted furiously at the top of her lungs. Kotone shivered relentlessly, her round eyes watery and gleaming with tears that soon rushed down her cheeks. They started to panic.
"M-Makoto, what's wrong?!" Kagami asked frantically. "Does it hurt somewhere?"
She sniffled and wiped her crying eyes with her sleeve.
"The lady! Is she mad? Is she mad at me?" she cried.
"N-n-no, of course not sweetie." Riko assured, lowering her tone into a softer more sympathetic one. She smiled and tried to regain composure. "Please don't cry now, okay."
Her hitched breathing became normal again and she nodded. "Okay."
"It looks like she lost some memories. Let's try and see what she does remember." Riko suggested.
"Makoto-kun, how old are you?" Kuroko enquired. She opened up one hand and then showed off four fingers on the other hand, making it a total of nine.
"N-nine, she's only nine…?" Kagami muttered.
"This is really bad." muttered Riko.
"Do you remember any of us?" Kuroko continued.
"Only Kagami-nii and you, Kuroko-nii." She replied. She then buried her cheek into Kagami's side.
#
Figuring that being in an unfamiliar environment was what had her startled, they agreed to pretend that they were like her older siblings. Fortunately, she was naïve enough to believe this and things were starting to go smoothly. The only problem was figuring out how to deal with the practice matches. As they walked down the streets to their first match with Shutoku, they continued to devise a plan.
"I guess either Koganei or Furihata can fill in for her." Riko said. "But if anyone asks why she's not playing don't answer. Nobody's gonna believe that she turned back into a nine year old kid."
"Oh, we should also get either Ryu or one of her sisters to watch her while we play." Kiyoshi mentioned.
"Good idea. Makoto how does that sound—"Kagami began and then was halted. He did not feel Kotone's tiny hand grasp tightly onto him. He looked down and did not see her there. He let out a blood curdling scream, scaring everyone.
"What, what's wrong?!" Hyuga yelled.
"Oh no! Kagami lost the baby!" Izuki shouted in terror. Riko slapped him right in the face.
"Bakagami! How could you be so careless! Especially with your own girlfriend!" she berated. Then Kuroko smacked him upside the head.
"You bastard! What was that for?!"
"You just let a nine year old girl wander around the city by herself."
"This is no time for arguing! Everyone split into small groups and search all around for her. Find her or I'll make you guys see hell!"
"Yes Ma'am!" they all shouted obediently, dispersing into the city.
#
Meanwhile, the mentioned little girl returned to a park that they had passed by before. She waited by the swings, hoping they'd come and get her, but when a few minutes passed she started to have doubts. Kotone wandered and lingered outside the park gate and sat on the concrete, still waiting. When she came to believe that her precious big brothers and big sister had abandoned her she buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
"Huh, are you okay?" she heard someone ask. She looked up with her teary eyes and saw two boys much older than her.
"Neh, Kasamatsu-senpai, you think she's lost?"
"Maybe; just check on her quickly Kise, we still have a game to go to." Kasamatsu said. Kise knelt down to meet her at eye level.
"What's wrong sweetie? Are you really lost or something?" he enquired again. Kotone's lips quivered as she shrunk back. Kise radiated an amiable smile.
"Hey don't be scared. Just tell me what's wrong."
"I-I was walking with my big brothers and sisters. A-a-and then I stopped for a moment to tie my shoes. Then I didn't see them anymore." She stuttered, choked up from sobbing. Kise nonchalantly took her by the hand.
"Don't worry, we'll go look for them." Kise promised, and then turned back to his senpai. "After all, there's still some time left before it's our turn to play, right?"
"Yeah, I guess. Besides I don't think it'll be good to just leave her here. We have about an hour or so until we play, so in the meantime let's go look for her parents or siblings."
"C'mon kid." Kise beckoned. She followed the two older boys. "So where were you and your siblings going?"
"I was gonna watch my big brothers play in a basketball game today." She replied, her head craned upwards to look at Kise.
"Really? That's where were going too. Hear that senpai; we can go on ahead."