Practice finished relatively quickly after my, ahem, intervention, if you will. It finished without a hitch, but I clearly freaked out some of the other Miracles, 'cause I know for a fact Kise was eyeing me like I was ten seconds away from absolutely losing my marbles.
I mean, technically, I kinda was about to. The whole deal with Kuroko really hurt my brain. Thank goodness he was a sweet kid that gave absolutely zero shits about my mistake. I think people not seeing him happens much more often than it probably should, poor guy. He's too nice to have to deal with being constantly ignored.
I just ended up going straight home, declining the boys' invite to go to some fast food place and hang out. I wanted to relax and get some sleep before school started up, which I'm really glad I did.
The bullet train slows, coming to a gradual halt; it's my stop. I let go of the pole and hop off onto the platform, making my way out of the station and towards the bus stop.
Damn, we couldn't have lived any closer to the school? It'll be a damn pain to make this trek every single day for almost three hundred days. It's frankly disgusting that I have to do such a thing.
I sit on the bench by the bus stop and check the time on my new handy dandy IPhone, sponsored by the everso darling Akashi Seijuro; it's 8:15, the bus will be here in five minutes.
I'm about to put my phone back into my pocket when it buzzes.
Who would be texting me now? It's not like I gave anyone my number, other than the Miracles, and none of them except Murasakibara would text me unless they were being held at gunpoint. Maybe Shin-kun us in trouble.
Glancing at the text I read who it's from: Akashi Seijuro. Ay yi yi.
It reads "Get in the car."
Get in the car? What damn car does he want me to get into?
I text him back my last thought, making it clear I don't know what the hell he wants me to do, but in a slightly more polite way.
My phone buzzes again. He replies "Take a damn guess, look around and get in the car that's clearly mine." Dick.
I do exactly as he says. My eyes flicker over a variety of cars, wondering what exactly he means by what car is 'clearly his'. Then my eyes land on a slick, shiny, black limousine.
Of course that car is Akashi's. He's rich rich. Like he could probably buy Tokyo rich.
The car honks. If a car could say "hurry the hell up, Kita," that's exactly what that car would be saying.
Jeez, even cars are getting pissy at me now. People- and things, apparently- need to get better at being kinder to me. After all I've been through, I deserve much more than a car honking aggressively at me. Maybe I've lost it, I'm imagining that a damn car honked angrily at me and I'm salty about it.
I get up from my spot, walking down the sidewalk toward the car. A driver steps out and walks to the side I'm on, opening the door for me.
Mumbling my gratitude, I set my bag into the car before seating myself inside. Looking turning my head to the side, I make eye contact with the very man who sponsored my phone.
"Akashi, you're in an incredibly pissy mood today. Couldn't text me anything other than 'get in the car'? That really hurt my feelings, Akashi, especially considering I thought we were becoming close friends."
He snorts, a sound that feels wrong coming from him. "Yeah, right. Cut the shit, Kita. We're going to have a chat about your responsibilities and how you'll have to balance schoolwork and basketball. I wouldn't have your grades falling or you being the reason we're losing matches."
Ouch, that was harsh. Also, incredibly unnecessary. I want to get into Rakuzan, the school that you have to have the highest grades possible to get into, obviously I'm going to do my absolute best.
He clearly notices I'm offended, but chooses to ignore it and continues speaking. "We're taking all the same exact classes except for one. I got your schedule early from the school so I could check. I'll be keeping you in check and making sure that you get all your week done for at least the first semester; I won't have you missing any practices because you can't keep up with all the coursework that comes with higher level classes."
What an asshole. Why on earth would I take higher level courses if I couldn't handle the coursework? I'm getting so goddamn offended and I'm about to go apeshit on this bitch.
"You will also be required to come to extra lifting sessions, as is required by all the Miracles on the team. We are the best of the best, and have to maintain peak physique and muscle mass. You'll be treated no different and required to exercise a certain amount each day and you'll get a food plan based on any deficiencies you have and to ensure you're meeting all of your nutritional needs."
"Yeah, no. I work better when I'm not being micromanaged. I'll do all you said, but I will do it on my own terms. Also, no need to waste your time making sure I do my work, I will, like I did before I came to this school. There's a reason I'm in the same classes as you and it's because I'm smart and I put effort into my work. Worry about someone else, not me," I rant irritably, the happy mood I woke up with has been long soured by his terms. "I'm not in a contract with you, Akashi. We're on a damn basketball team, a middle school one too. I'm not as emotionally invested in this as you are. Yeah, I want to win, but that's because I'm competitive, not because I care about winning on this team, or even sport, in particular."
He blinks at me, not giving away any particular emotion. One can tell he's really thinking about what he's going to say next.
"Then get invested. This might be a joke to you, but to the rest of us, it isn't. That's the difference between you and a Miracle," he states, giving away nothing, "We're here."
The car halts and Akashi opens the door getting out and I do the same, grabbing a hold of my bag and awkwardly staring at Akashi.
He brushes past me, sparing me one glance. "Homeroom is this way."
I silently follow him, pondering his words. I'd never say it out loud, but my respect for Akashi has increased tenfold.