Chapter 21: Yuno & Asta
After Winter Break, the rematch came quicker than Yuno imagined it would. So, Friday night two weeks after Winter Break, Yuno sat in the locker room with his teammates as they mentally prepared themselves for the upcoming rematch against the Spade Dark Disciples. Klaus, David, Xerx, and Solid were solemnly sitting next to Yuno. The Varsity, Junior Varsity and Freshman matches for both the boys' and the girls' teams decided if they were going to make it to the Inter-Kingdom High School Basketball League Semi-Finals.
Some people reported on the high school basketball circuit that suggested that without Kirsch Vermillion that the Clover Imperial Escalator Academy would lose the rematch against the Spade Dark Disciples and fail to enter for the first time for the League Semi-Finals. Mimosa had found the analysis online and the whole team found out about it and it just made everyone want to win.
"Alright, everyone! Let's do our best," said William, standing in front of them. "Remember that the Dark Disciples have a strong offensive strategy and that they are aggressive in those efforts. We need to make sure that when they foul, they get called on it. We will be using every tactic to our advantage."
Langris, Yuno, and the Captains came up with a good strategy to sub-in second- and third-string players on a rotation to keep everyone fresh. The Clover Knights basketball team had a lot of players and since everyone trained together, switching team rotation during practice, so everyone got a chance to play with everyone, it would work as long as they didn't do it too often to get called out by the referees.
"Langris, as Captain, do you want to stay something inspiring to them?" Coach Zara asked.
Langris stood up and said, "I'm not Kirsch, so there will be no flowery words from me. We've trained hard and long and we're at our best."
"Ready?" William asked.
"Yes, Coach," cheered the whole team.
Yuno followed his Varsity first-string teammates out of the door and as soon as his feet hit the gymnasium floor, he was rocked by the sound of the cheers of the spectators. He grinned to himself, as he went to the main court for Varsity teams. The Spade Dark Disciples Varsity team of five looked as intimidating as ever.
Dante, Zenon, Allen, Foyal and Gaderois were a force. Zenon and Allen, power forward and small forward, respectively, were extremely efficient as a team. Dante was the second-best high school point guard. Foyal as a shooting guard almost beat out Xerx in rankings. And Gaderois was big and tall and as a center, he was very intimidating.
"Ahh, we meet again, Yuno Vangeance," said Dante, stepping into center court.
Yuno stepped forward to shake Dante's hand in a good sportsman's manner. "We're going to win this time."
Dante laughed in a mocking tone. "We'll see."
The referee stepped forward with a basketball in hand. "Ready, boys?"
"Yes, sir," said Yuno and Dante, in unison.
The referee nodded. "Ready and play!" He blew on the whistle and threw the basketball in the air.
Yuno jumped and batted the ball right under Dante's nose straight to Klaus.
The game started in earnest.
Asta managed to convince Vanessa to let him go to the rematch game, but she took the evening off to go with him, Gauche, and Marie. Asta sat with his friends and Yuno's non-basketball friends, who were becoming Asta's friends very quickly, in the stands. He was on the edge of his seat, watching the Varsity game with sharp eyes.
Yuno and I talked about the possible strategies that the Dark Disciples would use against the Knights, but I didn't expect the Dark Disciples to fall back on defense when they are known for offense. He typed in his tablet to show whoever was next to him because he needed to tell someone his observations, which were Secre and Grey.
Zora interjected from behind him, sitting side-by-side with Kirsch. "Yeah, but the Dark Disciples know how Yuno and the other Varsity guys play together after the previous match. So, they had a fifty-fifty shot of guessing what the Knights would do to prepare for the rematch."
"Hmm, yes, all teams have access to game tapes. Dark Disciples' defense is still better than average," said Kirsch, in agreement. "Hopefully the switch-out strategy will work to our advantage and not to the disadvantage. But I know the coaches, they have a back-up plan just in case."
Asta typed, True. Yuno and the others are looking in top shape and we're ahead right now in the second quarter with it being 34-28. If they can keep the advantage and keep them on defense and not on the offensive...
"Knowing them," said Zora, interrupting Asta's typing spiel. "The Dark Disciples are definitely switching to offense in the third quarter."
"You're so smart," Kirsch cooed.
Asta nodded in agreement (he ignored Zora and Kirsch being sappy and in the honeymoon phase of their relationship behind him). He figured that was likely too, but Yuno and the others really did look like they were in top form. Asta knew how hard Yuno and the other team members were training for all rematches and how important this game was to the chances to qualify for Semi-Finals.
He bounced his leg excitedly as he watched in delight as Yuno got another shot in the basket. I really love basketball.
The Clover Knights teams all won the matches against the Spade Dark Disciples. The Clover Knights' supporters' cheers were deafening with the claps and the yells of excitement. Yuno breathed heavily after playing the last five minutes of the match and getting the last shot in himself. Klaus patted Yuno on the back and suddenly, he was bombarded by hugs and pats on the back from his teammates.
Yuno chuckled. He loved his teammates.
"Pizza is on Solid," said David, looping his arm around Yuno's shoulder.
"Hey!" Solid protested loudly.
"What? Kirsch always had his parents buy the victory pizza. Your parents can cough up the money now," said David, grinning at Solid.
"Alright, boys! Locker room for debrief," shouted Coach Zara over the crowd.
Yuno and his teammates all headed inside, so the crowds would head out before them so they wouldn't get too bombarded on the way out.
After debriefing and plans to come for when the Coaches received the information about their Semi-Final matches, Yuno headed out of the locker room ahead of the others, who were lagging talking about the various matches, including the Varsity girls' match that had a heavy foul that got Vanica (Dante and Zenon's brutal sister) kicked out of the game. There was someone that Yuno wanted to see before he headed to celebrate with his team.
Asta stood at one of the entrances of the gymnasium, waiting for Yuno as they planned earlier when they spoke via text message. He couldn't come and hang out with everyone, after what happened the last time, but Yuno wanted to see Asta before he headed home with Miss Vanessa and Marie.
"Asta! Did you see it all? We did great," said Yuno.
Asta nodded happily and signed. "You did so well. You all did. All the training paid off!"
"Thanks for your support. Thanks for letting me workshop ideas with you before bringing them to the coaches," said Yuno, fondly of the many conversations they had.
"It was you and your team. You're amazing." Asta signed.
Yuno's face felt warm and he said, "Not really…"
Asta shook his head and signed quickly again. "You are amazing!" He reached for his tablet and typed, likely because it was easier for him.
Yuno patiently waited for him to be done.
Asta wrote: No, you are amazing. You're so skilled and quick. You adapt easily. You can go pro one day! I'm surprised you don't have offers from universities already.
Chuckling, Yuno said, "Thanks. I train really hard."
Nodding in agreement, Asta put his tablet away and made a face, before signing something very quickly, "Do you want to go out?" Asta suddenly looked at his face and his ears turned bright red.
Yuno froze. The translation of sign language for that question had a double meaning. He asked, "Do-do you mean like a date? Or just as friends?" Asta started to sign frantically without looking at Yuno. Yuno interjected, "Because I'd like to go out on a date, if that's what you meant."
Asta looked up at him with his bright green eyes and smiled happily. "Yes. A date."
Yuno couldn't help but smile widely. "That's good. Great. How about Sunday morning?"
Asta nodded, grinning.
"Asta! Come on, Marie is getting tired!" Miss Vanessa yelled, loudly in the distance.
Asta made a cute, disgruntled face and waved bye at Yuno.
Yuno waved goodbye and as Asta ran off to catch up with his foster mother, Yuno said, "See you."
"Yuno! Come on, man, we gotta get pizza," Leo yelled at him, as he ran up to Yuno. "Hey, why do you have that look on your face? Were you talking to Asta?"
"We have a date on Sunday," said Yuno, simply.
Leo said, excited. "You and Asta have a date? Really? Finally! Good job, Yuno!"
"Asta asked me, so my crush hadn't been hopeless after all," said Yuno. "But if you said "I told you so," I'm punching you."
Leo laughed. "Well, we have to get everyone to help you plan your Sunday date! Perfect topic over pizza."
"Wait, what? No, don't tell everyone!"
"Too late," said Leopold, who suddenly had his phone out. "Texted group chat. We're all in."
Yuno sighed, as Leo dragged him off. This was going to be a long night.
~to be continued