(0_0)/ Wow! Another update! Who am I?

Thank you for the comments. They're really what motivate me the most to write more! Let's keep it up!

March 2008

He had done it. Hinata Shouyou had completed his goal of moving from class 1-3 to class 2-5. Now, all he had to do was keep his grades up throughout the year. Then he could remain in the more difficult classes and move into class 3-5 in the next year.

So, Shouyou's schedule remained virtually the same as it had in his first year. Go to school, meet with his tutor after school, and practice with Kuroko after the tutoring session. Of course, the more motivated Shouyou became regarding his studies, the less he needed his tutor. That still didn't stop them from meeting. It was a good routine that balanced both work and play, and it was a routine that Shouyou happily followed.

But as if on cue, some things had to change.

April 2008

Midorima Shintaro didn't have high hopes for his second year of middle school. He knew that his classes were going to become more difficult, and now that Akashi was captain, that meant that basketball practice would become more difficult as well. He did not, however, expect the teacher to place the most hyperactive person in his class behind him on the seating chart. Someone had better kill him soon.

Don't get him wrong, Hinata Shouyou wasn't a bad guy. In fact, Midorima often liked to educate Hinata on their shared horoscope and Oha Asa's predictions for the day. Interestingly enough, Hinata always listened with rapt attention.

But the kid was still short. He was short, and he was seated behind Midorima, who was tall. Due to this, Midorima found a reason to really, really, not like Hinata Shouyou. Hinata Shouyou was just. so. loud. He would squirm and grunt throughout the lessons because he couldn't see past Midorima's head and was trying to see past the tall basketball player, and whenever the teacher would call on him, Hinata would shoot out of his seat like a rocket and squeak out an answer in the loudest voice possible (or so it seemed).

It was going to be a long year for Midorima Shintaro.

~(0_0)~

'You can't go to the third string gym Dai-chan! Rumor has it that it's haunted…'

Aomine scoffed at the memory of Momoi's nagging. There was no such thing as ghosts- they didn't exist. That was why he went directly to the third string's gym to prove her wrong. But when he opened the door, the first thing he noticed was a very short kid hitting a volleyball against the far wall.

Why was this kid practicing volleyball when the school didn't have a volleyball team? Better yet, why was the kid practicing in the gym designated for the third string basketball team? Lost in thought, Aomine didn't notice anyone coming up to him.

"Hello."

Aomine would forever deny that he screamed really loud when the guy just appeared beside him. He would also deny the fact that he became flustered when the short guy pointed and laughed.

June 2008

It's funny how a chance meeting could make (and break) relationships. Kuroko was overjoyed after meeting Aomine. Someone who could actually help him advance in basketball! It really was a lucky day. Unfortunately, Shouyou didn't see it that way.

Ever since that fateful day in April, Kuroko didn't spend much time around Shouyou. Aomine showed up every practice and demanded all of Kuroko's time. At first, Shouyou tried to get Aomine to help him with volleyball, but he was brushed off.

"Huh? Why would I wanna play volleyball when I'm a basketball player?"

Shouyou didn't understand. All he had wanted was for someone to help him practice his spikes. Kuroko could set the ball, Shouyou could spike it, and Aomine could block it with his height. It wasn't that difficult, and Shouyou was only asking for it to be a one-time thing! But he still got shut down.

Kuroko wasn't much help. He was happy that Aomine was determined to help him. In an effort to make everyone happier, Kuroko suggested that they halve the court. And that's how a rift began to form between Shouyou and Kuroko.

If Kuroko noticed, he never showed it.

This fact was one of the reasons why it wasn't a good day for Shouyou. He practiced his sets, receives, and serves against the wall alone (as always), his most recent test didn't have the best marks, and his tutor had ripped him a new one just half an hour prior. He was lonely and frustrated, and so he kept working harder. And harder. And harder still, until he hit the ball a little too hard.

The volleyball ricocheted off the wall and soared over Shouyou's head. He was frustrated. He wanted to keep practicing, he wanted to get better. So he jumped.

When he landed, it was to the sound of clapping echoing through the gymnasium.

~(0_0)~

Akashi Seijuuro didn't think of himself as lucky. Everything in his life ended up exactly as he had planned it to. However, he did not plan to find two of the most interesting people he's ever met sharing the third string gym with one of the first string regulars. That might've been lucky.

First, there was the invisible man, Kuroko. He had potential. He just needed to figure out what his style was. Once he did that, Kuroko could become a regular with ease. His lack of presence could be very useful on the court. With Kuroko alone, there'd be no way that the first string could lose. Victory would be even more assured than it already was!

The other kid, Hinata Shouyou, was interesting too. He had amazing physical abilities, with potential for massive amounts of growth. The jump Akashi just witnessed was proof enough of that.

Hinata Shouyou had Akashi Seijuuro at hello.

~(0_0)~

"I would like for the both of you to join the first string."

Those words rattled around in Shouyou's head as he stood there, motionless. Who was this guy? He knew that Shouyou wasn't on the basketball team, right? Also, who was he to assume that Shouyou wanted to play basketball to begin with?

"Yes."

"No thanks."

Kuroko honestly thought that Hinata would've accepted, if only to be a part of something. Then again, when was the last time Kuroko actually hung out with Hinata? Or even spoke to him?

Somehow, Hinata was in the advanced class, so they didn't have classes together. The only reason they spoke in the first place was because they shared the gym and practiced together. But since Aomine came to practice with Kuroko every day, Hinata's presence became less noticeable. It was then that Kuroko realized that maybe he inadvertently pushed Hinata off to the side a little too much…

"Who are you, anyway?"

Kuroko was ripped out of his thoughts by Hinata's question. Midorima, who had been standing behind Akashi with the other regulars and Momoi, sported a disbelieving look. Didn't Hinata know that he, Akashi, and Midorima were in the same class?

Shaking it off, Akashi introduced himself. "I'm Akashi Seijuuro. I am currently the captain of the first string basketball team. We're in the same class."

"Oh."

With that, an uncomfortable silence descended upon the gymnasium. Until Akashi broke it once again.

"Why did you refuse my offer?"

Shouyou's gaze hardened as he looked at the volleyball in his hands. "I'm not a basketball player. I want to play volleyball."

"Even though there isn't a volleyball team at Teiko?"

Hesitation. "Well… yeah… but-"

"Hinata-kun. Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Word Count: 1260

(0_0)/ So what did you think? I tried to incorporate other points of view for this chapter (my writing style is still evolving, after all!), and I think I did okay...

I think I should also mention that I will be taking another hiatus soon. But it will be planned this time! I will announce it again when it happens, which should be in 3-5 chapters. the hiatus is because I'm a senior in university who is taking advanced linguistics in the fall quarter. I'm gonna die.

Anyway! Please leave a comment! Those are the only things motivating my writing...