First of all, I would just like to thank all of you for taking the time to read this piece of story that I wrote and to be honest, it kind made me nervous as it's my first time in this site and this makes Seventh Prodigy my first work so I'm glad to see useful critiques in the review section. I'm gonna say it now: since I'm a college student who happened to be quite busy, updates won't come as fast but it would come nonetheless. Thank you and good day to you all.
P.S. This chapter is just short lol so forgive me for that. I just want to get immediately to the basketball games with 8man...
After running out of the inn, Kise ran as fast as he could. After watching that video of their conversation three years ago, he couldn't help but wonder why he felt so guilty. I mean, I was the least sinful out of them, right? The blonde should have been feeling vindicated that he had tried to stop his fellow Miracles from stabbing Hikigaya in his back.
Keyword: Tried.
"Yet, I felt useless knowing I could have done more…" Kise whispered to himself as he had another thing in mind. "I'll apologize to Kurokocchi too. There's no way I'm not doing it to my former trainer. Damn! Damn! Damn!" He cursed loudly, not minding the people passing by who hear him.
It didn't take long before he reached the gates of Sobu High School. After showing his gate pass, he immediately ran towards the building where the Service Club room is located and quickly sprinted towards the stairs. A few girls who recognized the part time model blocked his way momentarily but he only smiled and said. "Can I just do this next time? I have someone to talk to importantly and urgently." He politely excused himself as he pushes his way out of the crowd.
After a few more minutes, he finally reaches the Service Club. Luckily for him, there are no more people around to watch him with slight curiosity as Kise opens the sliding door, just in time to see Hikigaya and the two girls who is always with him about to exit the room. "Hikigayacchi! We need to talk!" The blonde quickly said as he was panting from running.
Hikigaya merely stared at the blonde, who was looking at him with puppy eyes, hoping he could pull it off the same way Kuroko does in the past. However, he was stunned at what Hikigaya did.
He simply shut the door close and locked it.
"Hi-Hikigayacchi?!" Kise called out as he kept banging on the door, "Hikigayacchi, let me explain! I'm sorry that I failed you in the past! Please, just please!" In his wailing, he didn't realize the rest of the Generation of Miracles plus Kuroko and Momoi also come into the room. Aomine then kept banging the sliding door as well and said. "Hikigaya! We need to talk! I swear I didn't meant what I said!"
No response.
"Hiki-chin, please let's talk. I want us to play again together and eat ice cream together like we did when you were still in Teiko." Murasakibara drawled, though there is a hint of begging in his tone.
Unresponsive.
"Hikigaya, I know you can hear us. Let's talk peacefully…" Akashi said rather quietly as he leans into the sliding door.
Still no response.
"Hmph. I will be honest with you. I mean what I said back then when I thought you're no longer useful…" Midorima said bluntly, causing everyone to look at him, as if saying, 'Are you an idiot?!' while earning a very violent smack from Aomine.
"Baka! You only made it worse!" For once, the tanned ace of Touou is on spot.
"You don't need to do that, Aomine!" Midorima touched the part which got hit as he then said. "But it all changed right now, Hikigaya. We all want you back. We all want to play basketball together again." He said it in a tone that was completely not himself but was genuine.
Hikigaya didn't respond yet.
Finally, Kuroko took this as a cue to intervene since it was very clear to him that he won't listen to any of the five miracles' pleas. Speaking in his own monotone but very clear voice, he then said. "Hikigaya-kun, it's me Kuroko. Akashi-kun and the others are really here begging for a conversation with you. Please, give them a second chance."
After a while, Hikigaya hesitantly opened the sliding door as he just looks at the GoM, who was very glad to finally see his face.
"Hikigaya/Hikigaya!"
"Hikigayacchi!"
"Hiki-chin!"
"Hikigaya…"
"Now, what will you fools say?" The man with rotten eyes just asked rather gruffly as he frowns. This didn't discourage Akashi as he then did what he just did a while back.
He knelt and wept before Hikigaya, who was very taken aback by his gesture.
Oi, oi, Akashi crying? Though I'd admit that I would pay to see something like this, I'm pretty sure he's just doing it out of pity and guilt. I don't need that, do I?
"Hikigaya." Akashi's voice cracked as he began to speak. "We're truly sorry for what happened in the past. I understand that you're angry with us so you can hate us or even be angry with us. But on behalf of our teammates here, I'd want to say that we miss you back in our club." He then looked up and said. "Come, let's play together again…the basketball that we all love…"
Hikigaya was disgusted by his olive branch Akashi was extending to him and was about to say something when Kuroko then spoke.
"Hikigaya-kun, I would love to see you back again playing with us again. I know that it sounds like a selfish request coming from me but everyone here has missed you as much as I have." Kuroko gently speaks, somewhat becoming the spokesperson for the five other Teiko players. "I' pretty sure that deep inside you, you also missed the days when we used to play not just for the sake of victory but just simply for the sake of having fun and enjoyment, like how we used to eat ice cream after practices, how we used to celebrate our middle school championships and how we used to love bullying Kise-kun for the sake of entertainment."
"Kurokocchi!" Kise wailed, not like they paid attention to him.
"Hikigaya-kun, I know the past can never be reverted again. It would stay there and it would leave a scar in our hearts." Kuroko continued. "But we can start again, right?" He then looked at Hikigaya earnestly and said. "I'm sorry if I'm saying this but take it as a personal request from me, your only closest friend back in middle school. Just one more chance…"
Hikigaya can't take it anymore.
I'm a lone wolf scarred and polished by battle caused from the sufferings in the past. I'm that one man who would be willing to stay original rather than to conform with other people's standards. Wait? Original? But playing basketball has been original for me. Wait, what I am saying?
It's true, though. Basketball's one of the very few things he originally had and he just tossed it aside, only to regain it back three years later—in this week.
"Hnnn." Hikigaya released a lot of oxygen in his breath as he then makes his decision after seeing Kuroko and to some extent, Momoi, both have puppy eyes while the other rainbow-haired teens were looking hopeful for his answer. "Just to be clear, you're all dickheads that I hate seeing you all, even today. But…for the sake of Kuroko and Momoi, I'll only agree to play with you all again if you all really want me back. I'm doing this because Kuroko requested me so. But I won't really mind if you all request that we play in the streets or everywhere as long as I can manage."
He then abruptly stopped before continuing.
"This is the final chance I'll give you all, Teiko comrades." Hikigaya said in his own gruff but nevertheless, genuine voice that Yukinoshita didn't fail to notice as she watches the whole scene unfold before her. "But before that, I believe that Kuroko here deserves an apology too."
Immediately, Kise made good to his promise a while back to himself and said, "Kurokocchi! I'm sorry! I'm terribly sorry! Your student here didn't learn anything at all! Please forgive me!"
"Kuroko, we'd like to apologize. On behalf of them all, we sincerely regret our actions." Akashi closed his eyes and bowed lowly. The other miracles followed suit.
"No need to do it at all, Akashi-kun." Kuroko said as he answers in his own monotone way. "I have long forgiven you even after hearing it all."
"Hearing it? Kuroko, don't tell me…" Midorima was shocked when he realized something in Kuroko's words.
"Yes. I have heard it all." Kuroko replied, still stoic but one can hear the tone of pain in his throat. "Midorima-kun, you thought that I fled to find Ogiwara-kun but no, I immediately went back to the locker room and I heard all of the conversations that you all had."
Every one of those who were involved back then flinched. They had just said the nastiest things to their teammate and yet, Kuroko was able to forgive them.
"I had to admit that I was angry but with the help of Kagami-kun, I was able to move on and forgive all of you." Kuroko gave off a small smile. "No need to worry all over the past."
All of the Generation of Miracles looked very ashamed to even look at Kuroko. "Neh, Tetsu. I'm sorry." Aomine was the first to speak. "I know you had that dumbass Bakagami as you new light but I hope someday, we can play once again as partners…"
"We're sorry!"
"Ehem ehem." Yukinoshita, who was very quiet for the rest of the time, decided that it was her time to be superior and said. "Now that you all got what you want, excuse us all. We still have something to attend to. You're clogging the pathway."
"Neh, then we can go as well right? Let's have some fun!" Kise suddenly suggested as he wraps his arms around Hikigaya, who objected to it and immediately removed his hands.
"Wait…" Yuigahama didn't know if she'll object or not.
"Then it's decided. Let's all go out together." Akashi spoke up as he brings out what looks like a credit card. "We'll all treat you for food and drinks. It would be my treat."
Everyone present all agreed, albeit begrudgingly from the three Sobu students.
Kuroko smiled as he can see a new start from this day on.
Sneak Peak: After their reconciliation, Hikigaya and the rest of his former Teiko teammates agreed to meet at Teiko Middle School for a special request from their former coach. 8man was allowed to bring his two club mates in his former school and from there, revelations from the past would unravel along the way.
Games to Expect:
- First String versus Second String (Teiko)
- Japan versus Lebanon (practice match)