"Oh…Yukino-chan? Gahama-chan? Hikigaya-kun?"
"Ne-Nee-san?!"
Oh no. Why is she here?! Hikigaya abruptly stopped in his tracks with Yukinoshita and Yuigahama as the rest also came to the halt. Immediately, his rotten eyes met with blue ones, similar to Yukino's, as the rest of the group also halted. Akashi seemed also fazed for a bit before regaining his composure and watched as the woman named Yukinoshita Haruno came forward to meet the three Sobu students, not even taking the time to see who they were with.
"I didn't expect you to be here, Yukino-chan and Hikigaya-kun!" Haruno said in a rather cheerful way as she quickly lunges towards the boy with ahoge and began to shake him. "So what's with you three being here in Tokyo, specifically near Teiko?"
Of all times, why does the Great Demon Queen had to appear now?! Hikigaya groaned as he began to feel the atmosphere suddenly turning like that feeling of being choked in a swimming pool. This was the same Haruno who would appear anywhere and say too uncomfortable things with her (twisted) smile. The same Haruno that would love to toy around, especially a certain rotten-eyed boy.
In other words, there is no escaping this Haruno Yukinoshita.
Luckily, someone was able to answer for the three Sobu students.
"Hikigaya's a player under my team so he's here." Akashi's chilly and icy voice can be detected as he barges into the conversation "Those two just happened to come along with him so there's that."
Haruno's eyes widens at the appearance of Akashi as well as the words that he had let go. The atmosphere around them had just gotten so stiff that even Aomine, who was top-billed as the bravest and most physically dominant of the Generation of Miracles, began to feel the pressure build up and merely hugged Kise out of instinct.
"Oh…I'm surprised to see Yukino-chan fraternizing with the enemy…" Haruno gave a dark chuckle, ignoring her younger sister's protest and sneered over Akashi. "Aren't you the son of Akashi Seiichi, the president of the Akashi Corporation? I never thought I get to see you in personal, the heir of all your clan's riches. Besides, didn't your father thought you manners about not meddling into other people's affairs like right now?"
"For the record Yukinoshita-san, you're the one who just did exactly as that." Akashi's voice was becoming dangerous and before it can escalate into something more critical, Hikigaya spoke up a once. "O-Oi, this is enough. Why don't we just all go in peace and, ya know…"
"Hikigayacchi!" Kise wailed in horror, totally worried at what their captain would do since their teammate had interrupted him.
"Hikigaya!" Aomine and Midorima wailed as well, albeit rougher.
There was silence hung in the air before Akashi sighed and said. "You're right, Hikigaya. It's a waste of time to even engage in something like this. Yukinoshita-san, if you want to go with us, then fine. Be my guest. But do something that crosses the boundaries and I won't hesitate to have you kicked out." There was clear hint of threat in his voice.
"Oh, you think you can do that?" Haruno rolled her eyes as she continued to pinch Hikigaya's cheeks playfully. "By the way, I'm surprised to see Hikigaya-kun with some companions here. It's just that he's not at all sociable!" Wow, talk about a 360-degree personality change from the Demon Queen. Hikigaya sarcastically remarked on his mind as he struggled to get away from the grip of the elder Yukinoshita.
"He may not look like it but he's a member of the Teiko basketball club that dominated the middle school championships back in our middle school days." Midorima decided to be the superior one here as to give Akashi time to cool down from just encountering their family's greatest arch-enemies.
"Oh, Teiko…ah, are you saying that Hikigaya-kun is a Generation of Miracle?" Finally, Haruno noticed the others and was astounded to personally meet the Kiseki no Sedai by flesh and blood.
"Yes, nee-san. Hikigaya-kun may not look like it but he's as talented as them. He showed flashes of his potential once." Yukinoshita Yukino explains.
"Yeah…that's it. Besides, it would be a waste if we linger here any longer." Midorima didn't want to definitely have them hanging out too long in the streets. Besides, some of them would have to go home early and at far places.
Hikigaya definitely didn't predict this to happen. Kuroko definitely did not either. The only person who was comfortable with the situation was Yuigahama but then again, it was Yuigahama Yui whose head also as dense but had great social skills to make up for his intellectual deficiencies. At this kind of situation, only she would find it appropriate to smile like a loon. Someone was also smiling though Hikigaya and Akashi could tell it was sarcastic smile and not honest in the slightest, if anything. Haruno Yukinoshita did her best to mirror the grinning Yuigahama who sat across her.
Currently, they are in two tables, one which is reserved for the three girls and the other and larger table reserved for the eight former Teiko regulars. Still, it was close enough for Akashi to observe and listen to whatever Haruno is spewing non-sense right now.
It was a just supposed to be a simple trip to get a dinner in crowded shopping area in Tokyo for members of the Japanese basketball team. Right now, Kise and Haizaki were in their own world (of fighting and arguing, that is) and Midorima was silently praying that lighting should strike the two small forwards and copy cats. Luckily for them, the weather was just fine as it didn't rain. If that was the case, it would have been an additional headache for the team, who already had to deal with Haruno's presence, Yukino's icy glares, and Yuigahama's loud voice.
"Why am I here?!" Suddenly, Aomine protested loudly as he ended up sitting between Kise and Haizaki. Akashi ordered him to do so.
"I did it so that Kise and Haizaki can stop with this meaningless fight." The redhead captain explained and Aomine can only grumble underneath his breath.
Kise pouted. "What's wrong with sitting besides me, Aominecchi?!"
"Shut up and I don't want to hear your goddamn voice!" The tanned ace roared, causing the blonde to wail.
"This is getting interesting." Haruno commented and watched as if she is viewing a sit-com.
"I was under the impression that this is a normal situation for them. Seemed that I was right." Yukino said.
Hikigaya ignored Aomine's remark and Kise's protest as he took the menu from Kuroko and opened it. "Shall we order something? I am hungry, you know."
Haizaki had forgotten about the trivial argument with Kise in favor of filling his growling stomach and he ended up opening the menu with fervor. Kuroko bemusedly thought Haizaki was so unlike the red head they all personally knew. Akashi would pass meal in favor of winning a verbal spar any day. He also made sure to win quickly so it won't bother his healthy lifestyle.
Winning in life was their family motto.
"Excuse me, could we have a seat for six?"
Kuroko froze, and he didn't need to look up to know that Kise especially was also doing the same when the familiar voice that demand absolute obedience, though not on the level of Akashi but still, it was intimidating.
Hikigaya turned around slowly on his seat, blatantly ignoring Kise who had accidentally stabbing his chin with spatula in his shock.
There they are, standing in front of some people that some players in the table recognized immediately. Hyuuga didn't look fine—and it was expected, to be honest—but there was unreadable wild emotion in his eyes. As if he couldn't believe the situation he was stuck in, Kuroko could understand his sentiment.
"What a coincidence."
Midorima scowled. "Takao! What are you all doing here?!"
Murasakibara, who hasn't opened his mouth for a while, squinted his eyes, "Who is it, Mido-chin?"
"What the hell. I didn't expect to see these brats here." The familiar raspy voice of Kasamatsu Yukio echoed.
For once, Hyuuga Junpei felt like he wanted to bolt out of the restaurant immediately the moment he saw the Generation of Miracles as well as three unfamiliar women sitting closer to them. The former Seirin captain was with another Seirin alumni in Izuki as they're here on the same reason was the one who arrived earlier.
And who are the others?
Surprisingly, some of the companions of the former Seirin boys were also the players that they have fought in their three-year high school career. With them is Kise's former captain and the tough Kasamatsu Yukio, the exact opposite of the flamboyant Kise in almost everything other than handsome looks and basketball skills. With Kasamatsu are the other former Kaijo players Moriyama and Kobori, who was likewise shocked at this development.
Joining them are the Touou alumni in Shoichi Imayoshi, Yoshinori Susa, and the loudmouth Wakamatsu Kosuke, who was disgusted upon seeing his former kouhai lazily sitting on the dining table. There is also Miyaji Kiyoshi, Kimura Shinsuke, and the former captain Otsubo Taisuke, who didn't expect this strange and unexpected reunion with their other kouhai since Takao is with them, presently.
If anything, Yosen and Rakuzan's former players aren't around with them, though the others must have been thankful for that.
If one wondered how the four rival school teams could end up in the same table of a crowded Yakiniku and Okonomiyaki restaurant and with their spoiled kouhais at that, let's go back to twenty minutes ago.
Hyuuga could safely blame it to the joker Izuki, Seirin's former number one puns master and idiot. He and his over-friendly attitude had attracted trouble more often than not and today is no exception.
It started as a simple trip for a dinner in the shopping area in Tokyo for former Seirin upperclassmen with exception of a certain Iron Heart who had to meet with his professor at this point. Maybe it was for the best of all since if he had shown up too early, Hikigaya might end up suffering an anxiety attack.
They were browsing through the streets when Izuki caught someone familiar from the corner of his eyes and in a blink of the eye, Kasamatsu and the former seniors of the Kaijo basketball team came in the same street at an opposite direction. Faster than they could react, the Eagle Eye point guard waved them over in an attempt to quickly gain more help in finding a suitable restaurant. Whether or not, Kasamatsu minded to go join with them, he definitely had no choice but came over because Izuki waved at them to come over so cheerfully and loud (In other words, it was attracting attention) that all customers in restaurant looked at them and the former Seirin students with a smile. It would also be quite disrespectful if they snub Izuki.
Just when they're about to set out again, another familiar face that entered the street. This time, it was Takao followed by his former seniors and alumni in Miyaji and the other two. The same occurrence repeated although Otsubo looked more composed as he strode to their group, ignoring commotion around them. But then again, Izuki being Izuki had blatantly thought about letting them join in as well and Hyuuga thought it would be over.
The megane, minutes later, had to eat his words back though since Izuki, who had his Eagle Eyes, just had to catch another familiar face and no one could stop him to invite the newcomer. The former Touou captain, Susa, and the hotheaded Wakamatsu had just entered the same street and it's a no surprise that he just smiled at them in a way that made him look like a creepy stalker while Wakamatsu looked like someone just murdered his puppy. Susa had the most normal reaction out of the three of them. Imayoshi had even the guts to comment how well they get along in the same route and even expressed his gratitude to Izuki for the chance to find a restaurant and possibly find a table to share with them since their last encounter.
And so, here they are, facing their former kouhais who, at more than one point, had tested the limits of their patience in their playing careers.
"The hell! Kuroko, what are you doing here with those brats! And why are you not with Kagami!?" Hyuuga immediately spotted Kuroko, who was still holding his menu.
"Kagami-kun had to undergo remedial lessons and I'm with them since we had some activity in our former Teiko school." The tealnette politely explained.
"Kasamtsu-senpai! Long time, no see!" Kise, as usual, waved at his former captain, who can only cringed at him.
Kasamtsu grunted. "Dammit, I had to endure Kise, then."
"You're not the only one." Ootsubo said tonelessly, "Just seeing Midorima's face is enough to make my blood boil, especially those days where he was given three selfish wished a day."
But as everyone then started to find a table, Takao, who was using his Hawk Eyes, suddenly spotted Hikigaya looking at his menu table and suddenly screamed. "Eh?! Hikigaya Hachiman is here, too?! Oh boy, I don't believe it!" He then hurriedly sprinted towards the stunned Hikigaya and said. "This is just the second time I saw you this year!"
"Huh?! What are you saying?!" Hikigaya scowled, worried that he was already becoming a disgrace for the loners around the world.
"Of course we fought once in middle school! Can't you remember!" Takao even had the audacity to shake Hikigaya in his shoulders. "Ara, ara. I have a suggestion! Why don't all the point guards sit in one table! I would love to have a discussion with Hikigaya Hachiman here!"
"O-Oi! Stop that!" Hikigaya was now panicking as he noticed Yukinoshita's eyes widening in shock that someone had just become his number one fan for the day. Yuigahama was covering her gaping mouth in shock while Haruno…well, it looks like she was enjoying this scene at all.
"Get off me! Yeah, I kind of know you. You're Kazunari Takao, right?" Hikigaya forcefully removed the hands of the Shutoku guard from his shoulders. "And I don't want—"
"Interesting." Akashi just had to smile sadistically. "Perhaps, why don't we all take Takao-san's suggestion? That way, the tables would be equally divided."
No! Akashi, no! Hikigaya was already screaming mentally as he felt his Stealth Hikki skill will crumble in face of the sheer pressure emitted from talking with five nationally-recognized point guards in Japan.
In the end, Hikigaya sorrowfully ended up having to share a table with Akashi, Takao, Kasamatsu, Izuki, and Imayoshi, who was delighted to see a formidable foe from the past resurface. Hyuuga, Moriyama, Kobori, Susa, Wakamatsu, Miyaji, Kimura, and Otsubo ended up occupying the large table while the rest of the Generation of Miracles, sans Kuroko, vacated to another large table. The Phantom Sixth Man had to content himself with sitting with Yukinoshita and the rest of the ladies since he didn't want to be squished by Kise and Aomine.
"Now, this is awkward, Yukinon…" Yuigahama didn't know how to put it in words as he watched the table the GoM and Kuroko dubbed as the "Point Guard Bunk" staring (or glaring in Hikigaya's case) at each other as if waiting for someone to initiate the conversation. The rotten-eyed Sobu student is fine with this silent treatment but Takao can't stand it and began to speak.
"What kind of meat you guys would like?!" The Hawk Eyed guard asked cheerfully, "They even have Ostrich! That's quite rare!"
Izuki grunted as he said. "Pork sounds fine for me. Oh wait…What's it called when a bunch of pigs compete in athletic games? The Olympigs!"
Huh? Was that supposed to be a joke? Hikigaya is cringing at Uziki's lame attempt to make a funny pun like he does in his Seirin days. On the other side, Hyuuga heard him and felt like he had to murder him for good after this.
Akashi sighed as he said. "Usually, I don't eat meat but I'll let it slide for once." The Rakuzan captain said tonelessly. "Hot green tea for me and I'll cook Okonomiyaki."
Izuki nodded as he writes down the order. "Does anyone want green tea?"
"I would like a green tea for me." Imayoshi said with a smile.
"Me too…" Hikigaya grunted as he said tiredly.
Ten Minutes Later at the Point Guard's Table
"What have you done?!"
Takao flinched at Hikigaya's sudden outburst. "Eeeh, I just added tomatoes in the mochi topping." The Shutoku guard offered to cook Okonomiyaki for the Sobu guard but he didn't even realize that Hikigaya hated tomatoes, frankly speaking.
"Those have to be cooked separately!" Hikigaya told the Haek Eyed guard, ranting about the texture of chewy mochi being compromised and how Takao had ruined his meal. "And I don't like tomatoes! Listen well, when it comes to Okonomiyaki, there's a proper way of cooking it perfectly. Especially when it comes to the cheese toppings, the precise timing to add it in decides the taste of the Okonomiyaki."
As the two were currently embroiled in a mini-conflict, Akashi can only sigh as he then said. "Gentleman, thank you for accepting my random request for tonight. As surely it was very rude to make you all sit here, I'll be the one paying for our dinner."
"Are you sure about that?" Kasamatsu raised his eyebrows.
"Yes, Kasamatsu-san. It's an enough payment for me to see you all sitting with me." Akashi said as he then turned towards Takao and Hikigaya before saying. "Takao, let Hikigaya cook his own Okonomiyaki. He can do it on his own." Takao reluctantly let go of the spatula as Hikigaya heaved a sigh. I hate to admit it but I owe you one, Akashi.
The meal was spent on silence save on the bickering between over the table where the rest of the Generation of Miracles are seated as Kise and Aomine are fighting over the meat and Izuki's puns. Imayoshi thought that the air was suffocating and he couldn't enjoy the meal at all. He was surprised that of all people, it was Kasamatsu who started a conversation.
"I'll admit it…the last time I faced Hikigaya Hachiman back in middle school, I seriously thought he can be a starter." He asked casually, his chopstick holding a big cooked mushroom. "His speed is no joke. He's somewhere of an in-between of Dwyane Wade and Allen Iverson."
"Uh…thanks?" Hikigaya wasn't used to getting praises from people he didn't know personally so this was a first to him.
"That would be lovely but unfortunately, there are a lot of players in our club." Akashi had to explain why it was like that.
"One of the few disadvantages of having a large club." Imayoshi sighed. "You know that everyone has the potential but at the same time, you also had to trim it down to just 12 playing members. What would you say about it, Hikigaya-kun"
"That's a fact of life, Imayoshi-san." Hikigaya got freaked out for the moment at hearing Imayoshi call him out but he didn't show it. "Sometimes, those with potential ended up just becoming the armor and sword bearer of the main ace and as much as I hate to admit it, it's a daily occurrence in today's basketball."
"Oh but with three-point shooting teams today, just becoming the ace won't lead you anywhere if your opponent is a three point shooter." Akashi replied, smiling.
"Well, there's that but being a team of rainbow-arc shooters doesn't automatically affect the outcome of the game." Hikigaya retorted back. He himself didn't know why it led to this but he just had to answer back. "Look at 2001's Milwaukee Buck led by Ray Allen and the 2008 Celtics led by him as well. He had lots of shots from downtown yet ended up not winning many titles. He lost in 2001 because Iverson wanted it more despite his low point-per-field goal percentage. Sometimes, it's just the mentality of the player if you want to win, not the technicality or the skill itself."
"Well…I can see where you're going at." Kasamatsu agreed with Hikigaya's argument. "But what happens when you're the only good player against a team of prodigies?" He had a subtle jab at the Teiko crew.
"Well…then that's where the gap of talent will enter. But until the game isn't finished, you won't know who'll win anyway." Hikigaya replied, unsure if he's right though.
"Interesting comparison there, Hikigaya." Akashi complimented him as he drinks his cup of beverage. "Tell me, then, why your idol managed to win their 2006 championship series despite in a brink of losing it at 2 – 0?"
"Dwyane Wade? He basically began to attack the basket, leading to chances at the free-throw line." Hikigaya didn't like where this conversation is going but he kept on anyway. "Of course, if you're the defender, you only have two choices; either let him have his way or be haunted at the possibility of getting bodied up in exchange of the effort of trying to slow him down. Add to that is the speed and athleticism of Wade. It's just incomparable at that time; maybe even stronger than Kobe at their primes."
At the Sobu girls' table with Kuroko
"Hikigaya-kun's talking more than usual." Yukinoshita observed as she chews on her food.
"He really talks much more when it's related to basketball." Kuroko explained. "Of course, he can't do that since he's in Sobu High School."
"Mou…what does that supposed to mean?" Yuigahama asked in slight irritation.
"Basically, since he's with a group that's not inclined in basketball, he won't really talk as much and as we know, he would remain in his anti-social manner." Kuroko bluntly replied as he drinks his milkshake. "And since it's you, I doubt if you would even understand basketball-related topics."
"Meanie! You're so mean!" Yuigahama wailed at the truth being slapped in her face.
"But still, I never expected Hikigaya-kun to be a member of a legendary group." Haruno exclaimed as she then faces Kuroko. "Tell me Kuroko-kun, how does he looks like when he was in middle school? What are his quirks, his favorite hobbies back then, and anything related to him?"
"Oh…" Kuroko had a feeling that he was speaking with a stalker which frankly speaking, she was kind of. Still, he replied, "Hikigaya-kun's remain the same except that he's taller right now and that he had his hair cropped down. Back then, he was sporting a spiky Mohawk hair."
"Woah?! Really? He had a different hairdo back in middle school?!" Yuigahama was genuinely astonished.
"Somehow, I can't imagine Hikkiugly-kun in a different hairstyle." Yukinoshita Yukino murmured.
"Back then, he was also one of the first to formally enter the Teiko club rapidly with Aomine-kun, Akashi-kun, Midorima-kun and Murasakibara-kun. Me and Kise-kun entered the first string late." Kuroko had to search his head for some other memories. "He's someone who isn't fond of brands which he claimed is too much of a normie type but he does have pairs of Jordan shoes for playing basketball. But his favorite one will be always the Fly Wades."
"Pretty much obvious." Yukinoshita sighed as he saw that everyone seemed to be in their own little world. This will be a long night.
After that dinner that saw the Generation of Miracles, Kuroko, and their former senpais have a random reunion with each other and eat at the restaurant, the five rainbow-haired prodigies already went home to their respective prefectures and schools as their normal week at studying is back while the Olympics hasn't arrived yet. That meant that Hikigaya can now spend some time with his lovely young sister in Komachi. It was already Tuesday morning and he had just entered the club room where the rest are waiting for him. Taking his seat peacefully, he was about to read one of his light novels when Komachi asked him something.
"Neh, onii-chan, did you study now for the upcoming quiz in Mathematics?" The younger Hikigaya asked as she was busy making a cup of tea for the whole club.
"Well…that's…" He was about to say that it was unnecessary since he wasn't that proficient at all in the field when Yukinoshita beat him to it.
"Why are you asking that, Komachi-san. You know how much useless your older brother is when it comes to studying." Yukinoshita had no qualms in saying it as she reads her book. Damn you, Yukinoshita! He cussed out aloud but he didn't try to fight back. He was used to it, after all.
Right now, they are now just waiting for requests from their schoolmates and the latter had to be emphasized since lately, all the requests they've gotten so far are the insignificant ones (such as helping in cleaning a pair of antique bottles) or if there is any significant ones, it's the ones which involved basketball, Kuroko, Kagami, Akashi, and the rest of the Generation of Miracles. And they're not even students in Sobu High School.
Suddenly, they've heard another knock on the sliding door.
"I hope it's a request that is coming from our schoolmates." Yuigahama said as she then stood up from her table and quickly opened the sliding door.
Sadly for her, it looks like she had jinxed everything.
"Ah, good morning. Is there someone named Hikigaya Hachiman here?" A tall guy suddenly showed up in front of their door. He doesn't looks to be a student here since his uniform is a bit different.
"Yes…anou…who are you?" Yuigahama asked.
"Ah, I'll tell my name when I get to see him."
"Oh okay. Come inside then!" Yuigahama let her cheerful persona take over as she ushers the tall guy inside the room. "Hey, we have a visitor again. And it seems that he's finding Hikki!"
At hearing his name, Hikigaya raised his head up, feeling that it's just someone like Akashi or Kuroko. But when he finally saw the face of the man, he was frozen in his seat. N-No way…it can't be him. He uttered in his mind as he tall man, probably even taller than Kagami was facing him already. He has half-long, brown hair that frames his dark eyes. His eyebrows are quite thick. His hands looks large as well.
"Oh, it's you. You're Hikigaya Hachiman, right?" The man chuckled as Yukinoshita then raised up her head to see yet another person who seemed to be familiar with her club mate. "You see, Akashi sent me here so here I am."
"You-You're—" Hikigaya was stuttering as his appearance suddenly brought back painful memories from the past.
"Ah, that's right. I'm Kiyoshi Teppei. Nice to meet you."
Sneak Peak: Hikigaya didn't know if he should be amused or what but here it is. Kiyoshi Teppei. One of the Uncrowned Kings. And one of the few players who faced the Generation of Miracles in their peak. As Hikigaya and Kiyoshi spoke about the last time they faced off, which made the former guilty, the latter then had a request from him, which Hikigaya agrees to. Yukinoshita was about to say that the club would help as well but Kiyoshi was adamant not to let them in since he said that it's something only he and Hikigaya would understand. Nevertheless, Yukinoshita is not one to let herself get out of the loop and she would do everything to know what exactly the nature of this request is.