... yeah no I have no excuse. Three months. It has been THREE months and I am sincerely sorry. All I can say is I got lost on the road of life. The new year started and I remember just being so pumped to get a new chapter out. Then the summer break turned into school, and school turned into a struggle to keep on top of things. It honestly felt like just keeping up was hard. This year, I am studying ahead in maths and art, and I can say there is a slight regret. Writing for WSOC became a liability. I had no inspiration, no drive to write. It just all fell away. Then I'd get that spark and sit down to write, only to find myself at a loss for anything. 'What was this story about again?' 'Wait don't I have an exam to study for?' I was on the verge of just deciding to abandon this story but I really don't want to. It wouldn't be fair to all of you reading to just end it here. So, after three months, here's a chapter.
Chapter twenty nine
Basketball together
There was a coldness, something of a chilling feel that perhaps came from the blue undertones of the skin. Or maybe it was the lifeless eyes staring out into oblivion. Then again. It could have been the girl's back, shattering off into shard which arranged themselves into wings, an illusion of freedom.
There were many things that annoyed Aomine. It irritated him when people were overly positive, he couldn't stand being lectured and most of all, it annoyed Aomine to no end when Asuka kept secrets. Not just any secret either, for he didn't really care about the fickle secrets that Asuka and Momoi giggled about, and he respected Asuka enough to leave her important secrets to herself. The secrets that irritated Aomine was the type that made Asuka smile silently to herself, as though enjoying a joke only she understood. It was the type that gave her the air of someone who was superior because she knew more. The worst thing was that it was Asuka, pure and simple. Aomine wouldn't have cared if it was anyone else, but there was something about Asuka knowing more that didn't sit well with him. It didn't help that apparently only he picked up on the subtle signs (other that Kise who Aomine suspected had some sort of telepathy with his cousin). After spending a whole week contemplating the situation, Aomine could take no more and decided to ask.
"Tell me what you know." Aomine demanded.
His sudden outburst made Asuka cut her conversation with Minako, Nashiwa and Watanabe short and look at his with confusion. When the bluenette didn't indicate that he was going to explain what he meant, Asuka sighed.
"Sorry, can you be specific?" Asuka asked patiently.
"You know what I mean. You've been keeping a secret." Aomine said.
At that, Watanabe gasped, causing the group to look at him. He frowned and observed Asuka thoughtfully.
"Izumi san, don't tell me you're dating someone?" Watanabe accused.
"Where did you get that idea?" Asuka laughed.
"I just thought maybe Aomine kun was jeal- nevermind."
Watanabe trailed off at the blank look on both Asuka and Aomine's face, catching himself before potentially angering the much tougher boy. Ignoring him, Aomine focused back on Asuka, once again repeating his initial demand.
"Hey Asuka san, I need to talk to Matsuzawa sensei so I'll catch you later. Watanabe, Nashiwa, come with me." Minako said, pointedly raising her brows at Asuka.
She dragged the two boys away, leaving Asuka alone with Aomine.
"Tell me what you know." Aomine said for the third time.
"I told you to explain what you want to know!" Asuka responded.
"I don't know, but you're keeping a secret." Aomine said.
Asuka narrowed her eyes.
"What 'secret'." she asked.
"You've been acting like you know something I don't and am walking a step ahead. At basketball, you always have this weird twinkle in your eye when coach talks about the interhigh." Aomine finally explained.
He was about to go on but the bell rang to signal the end of recess. Asuka smiled and patted Aomine on the back. So that's what he was curious about. For a second she'd thought her cover was blown.
"What's the fun in telling you? Just wait for the interhigh." Asuka teased.
"Tell me." Aomine insisted, almost on the verge of a pout.
Sometime Aomine could be really cute like that. It reminded Asuka of a stubborn child.
"I have to go to work at the glass studio." Asuka apologised.
Without discussing it further, Asuka bound off to art. Aomine himself made his way to Japanese history as he tried to think of what to do. It was like an itch that he couldn't scratch and he wanted Asuka to tell him face to face, not by text. There was only one thing to do. He was sure Momoi knew the address of Asuka's art studio.
It was surprising how easily Aomine managed to get the information from Momoi. She even seemed eager to tell, and gave Aomine exact directions to the glass studio and how to find Asuka once there.
"And bring her some snacks as a bribe!" was what Momoi had told Aomine when he left. The glass studio was a small place with the front being a shop and the back, a workshop for glass. It was quite a mesmerizing place, even to Aomine who wasn't one to appreciate the beauty of such things. The various glass artifacts in the shop reflected the light, creating a glimmering effect in the area. One section of the shop immediately caught his attention which featured a few small glass sculptures. Several were delicate figurines playing basketball. One in particular suspiciously reminded him of himself. Something about the way the figurine was poised ready to strike. The blue tinted glass for the figurines hair also added to the effect. Aomine blinked. Come to think of it, there was also figurines resembling the Kagami and Midorima.
"How can I help you sir?" A man asked, coming from the workshop in the back.
He noticed Aomine looking at the basketball row and smiled, walking over to it.
"I see you're interested in our newest collection. They were all made by a girl temporarily working for us. She studied in america and is very skilled." the man explained. "These three are the last left of a set of seven. You'll want to get in while you can."
In the same section, there were also several owl sculptures, though much less intricate than the basketball sculptures, still beautiful. There was no doubt Asuka was the girl the man spoke of.
"I need to talk to Izumi. I'm a friend of hers. Is she here?" Aomine asked bluntly.
"She's working at the moment but I'm sure she won't mind if you pop in for a bit." the man said, leading the way to the glass studio.
Aomine followed with the bag of snacks in his hand. He spotted her right away, skillfully handling a blowpipe and shaping the molten glass. She had her long silver hair tied back and wore a pair of safety goggles. When the man told her of Aomine, she looked to him in mild amusement, as though she knew he would show up.
"Hey Aomine, just let me finish this up real quick then we can talk." Asuka said, still concentrating on her work.
Aomine was amazed when the blob of molten glass transformed before his eyes into a beautiful horse. It only took Asuka two minutes to make the piece before she set it aside.
"So you came to talk about my 'secret' right?" Asuka asked.
"Wait, wait, that blob- how did you- it's a horse!" Aomine spluttered, the jumbled string of words showing his amazement.
"I forgot you haven't seen me work with glass before. I only learned after going to AYAI." Asuka replied, grinning at his reaction. "Come on, I'll show you my AYAI piece. It's a work in progress."
Asuka lead the way, moving through the workshop with a practised grace. She brought the glass horse with her and placed it on a table of finished works with several other glass blown sculptures, all relatively simple. There was a storage area at the side of the workshop which had glass pieces that were obviously meant for long term projects. Among them was one that completely took Aomine's breath away. At first, it looked like a colourful glass egg, but as with everything Asuka did, it had much more to it. The egg had several sheets of different glass in it, which made the light reflect and create an optic. Still there was more, much more. A few of the sheets of glass inside the egg held images, almost like stained glass would. And if Aomine focused of the egg even more, past the reflecting light, he could see a small glass girl at the egg centre, her figure curled up and head ducked against her knees.
"Pretty right? I don't mean to be arrogant or anything but I'm really proud and relieved this worked, or is working. Based on an American glass sculptor." Asuka grinned.
"How did you make it? How did you get all the sheets inside?" Aomine breathed.
"By cutting, sticking, grinding, sanding and repeat. The sheets with images take about two weeks each to carve. Since I only get to work in here twice a week, that's been tough, but I'll get there. Half the egg is still just plain as you can see."
Caught up in the fantastical glass art, Aomine almost forgot his original goal.
"Right, tell me what you were hiding! Don't try distract me." Aomine said quickly.
"Fine, if you insist." Asuka laughed.
Aomine watched the silver haired girl expectantly while she took her time sorting through the snacks he'd brought her. She was obviously finding his impatience funny, and he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of getting him to snap. Finally deciding to put Aomine out of his misery, Asuka offered him a bag of chips and began to speak.
"When I was in America, I met a this man while playing street ball. Turned out, a year later, he began working for the basketball association. Well, I was lucky enough to get some inside information about the international basketball competition for under 20 to be held this year. Apparently rumour went out about some really strong players in the high school, and for the japanese team, there will be scouts at the inter high looking for these players." Asuka began.
"Strong players?" Aomine repeated.
"Strong players, said to all have come from the same junior high." Asuka hinted.
She crumpled the empty chip bag she was holding and took out another snack. Impatiently, Aomine waited for her to continue.
"I didn't have to return to high school when I took my assignment year for AYAI. I could have stayed at home with more time to do art and more time to work and earn money yeah? Still, when I found out that the Japanese team had heard of the generation of miracles, I must admit, I was a little greedy and wanted to play again. It was as though I felt a fire reigniting." Asuka said.
"Why did you keep it a secret?" Aomine inquired.
"Because the selfishness of humans know no end. I plan on us getting on the team, the generation of miracles and Kagami too. If I told everyone else in the Tōō team, would they not strive for the same goal? It may be arrogant of me, but I want to play with everyone, be officially recognised as a team, for the first and last time." Asuka said.
Something about that statement didn't seem right to Aomine. What did she mean by last? He'd always just assumed Asuka was going to play basketball as a job, that they would maybe even all be as a team. Unable to comprehend it, Aomine voiced his thoughts, raising a melancholic smile from Asuka.
"I don't think playing together will be possible in the future. Of course, I expect that the generation of miracles with reunite, but I doubt I'll be there." Asuka said.
"But you're faster than any of us, and you're reflexes are inhuman. Why won't you be there? Is it because of art? You can do both right!" Aomine asked.
Asuka didn't reply, but there was a regretful look about her, as though she knew something he didn't. Except this time, it wasn't a secret that gave her a knowing air, it wasn't a secret that made Aomine want to hit his head against a wall. Asuka had a secret that made Aomine scared to pry, scared that if he tried asking, it would make her cry.
"By the way, are you hiding something too? Everyone keeps hinting at something and I'm really confused. Do you have something to say?" Asuka asked curiously.
"I have no idea what you mean." Aomine said.
"Something about asking me something?" Asuka tried.
"Ask you o- about what?" Aomine asked.
Aomine could have sworn a creeping heat run up his neck, but dismissed it as the heat from the furnace blazing in the back. It was also probably why he had such a ridiculous notion to what Asuka had meant.
On the morning of the interhigh match, Asuka found herself lying in a white room. The curtains were drawn shut but sunlight had found it's was in, peeking through the crack and split through the room. It was a pale light, as clean as the hospital room Asuka lay in.
"Morning then." Asuka whispered.
There were many things she should have been doing. She should have been painting, working, getting ready for the basketball match. Asuka should have been preparing for the start of the end. Instead she lay unmoving.
"Izumi san, good morning."
Asuka turned her head and saw a white coat appear in the doorway. Doctor Mori made her way to Asuka's side and sat down. "How is your arm feeling?"
Instead of replying, Asuka lifted her arm stiffly. It obeyed her, but not without trembling and sending stabs of pain.
"Seems it didn't work then. It was not a high percentage but I had hoped. You'll be fine to go but reconsider the your plans. You should consider the options for you future." Doctor Mori urged.
"There's no future to consider so I want to focus on the present. Otōsan has a better chance than me so if he gets better I'll be happy." Asuka explained.
Doctor Mori hesitated then sighed deeply. She dismissed her patient, watching regretfully as the silver haired girl left. Perhaps it would be harder for her to live alone than die alone.
This was a bit of an odd chapter. It was more for me to allow myself to get back into it. Next time will be match one of inter high! Let's hope the it doesn't also take three months...
Hope10032: Thank you for the kind review ^_^
Guest: Sorry for the massive delay, I hope you're still here though.
Edwardelrick458: I'm actually from New Zealand and yes we spell our word the good ol' proper way here (sorry everyone who spells it color). I guess in regards to using terms such as 'bloody' as a curse, I've been influenced by books such as Harry Potter as us Kiwi (New Zealanders) don't typically use them.
MaintainPressure: Can I just say firstly, love your story All because of bet! And I really appreciate the more critical (in a good way!) review. It really helps me improve. Before, I would have said that I would go back and revise my writing, and although I really want to, I realistically don't have time. From now on, I will keep your advice in mind though.
