For nearly five minutes, they haven't said anything to each other.
As Hikigaya and Kiyoshi stare against one another, the former found himself sweating bullets as the latter was smiling like a loon to him. Something tells me he's even more of an idiot than Yuigahama. Hikigaya thought as he immediately regretted what he had thought when he realized who this person was standing in front of him.
"…Sorry…" Finally, the mouth of Hikigaya muttered something in whisper but loud enough to be heard by Yukinoshita as everyone is dead silent.
"What was that?" Kiyoshi looked at him with a dead stare.
"I said I'm sorry…" Hikigaya had practically let go off his pride for the sake of apologizing on behalf of that infamous game that had ingrained in his mind. "You're probably here to condemn me, right?"
Suddenly, Kiyoshi laughed in response, surprising the boy with rotten eyes.
"Condemn you? Hahahaha!" The brunette big man laughed as he unintentionally ignored the presence of Komachi, Yukinoshita and Yuigahama, who were both shocked and stunned at the scene. "You're too cynical, young man! Try to enjoy life a bit more!"
I'm not being cynical! I'm just being realistic! Hikigaya groaned as he then asks something. "I didn't expect to see you here, Kiyoshi-san, especially after what we did to you and to your team. Maybe…"
"Hahaha, now that you mention it, I actually remembered you from that game." Kiyoshi explained, causing Hikigaya's eyes to enlarge to the point that it scared Yuigahama and shook Yukinoshita in her shoulders. "Yu-Yukinon! Hikki's eyes are even becoming grosser!"
"You're right Yuigahama-san. Hikigross-kun is becoming a danger to the three of us." Yukinoshita blandly agreed as she was about to say something to Hikigaya when Kiyoshi continued talking.
"Hikigaya Hachiman…to be honest, I was expecting to at least play you back in my high school career." Kiyoshi began narrating then he became somewhat somber. "But for some reason, you didn't show up. In fact, the day we lost to you Generation of Miracles was the last day I have played against you in person and in full strength."
"Full strength?" Hikigaya wondered then by mere coincidence, his eyes went lower until he saw that his left knee is actually being covered by some type of casting though he can't say what it is since the big man was wearing black pants. "Ah…what happened to you knee?"
"Well…it's a long story but to give you an overview, I suffered an injury back in my freshmen high school year." Kiyoshi grimly recalls what happened at that time. "It was a rebound battle and I would have avoided a collision if it wasn't for Hanamiya Makoto…"
"Ha-Hanamiya?" Hikigaya raised his eyebrows in the revelation. "You mean that fellow Uncrowned General of yours? Well, I'm not surprised then. There's a reason they called him a "Bad Boy." In fact, I was sick of his rough plays back when we played him in middle school. Everything about him, including his tongue and pale face, is freakish."
"That's big words, Hikigaya-kun since it's coming from a fellow creep…" Yukinoshita took this opportunity to again dehumanize her club mate though it seems that Hikigaya didn't pay attention to this and said. "Well, I hate to admit it but if the Uncrowned Kings were together, you might have a chance at toppling us back then."
"That would have been nice though knowing Hanamiya, it might have been for the best that we're not lumped in a single team." Kiyoshi said. "Besides, the three others have their own prides for that."
"The other three?" Hikigaya then counted his fingers and said. "The Night Demon, Mibuchi Reo. He's shooting touch is one of the smoothest that I have observes and apart from Midorima, he's the hardest to defend in his position, especially against his Oblivion shot. The Thunder Beast, Hayama Kotaro…" He stopped for a moment as something about this Uncrowned General reminded him of another Hayama and it pissed him off. "His special technique is lightning dribble and it becomes stronger the more fingers he uses. The Herculean Strength, Nebuya Eikichi. Wait a minute…I don't think there's something special with that gorilla other than his muscles…"
"You really remembered your opponents from the past." Kiyoshi was amazed.
"You can say that was the case, Kiyoshi-san." Hikigaya had to agree even though he wanted to deny it. "By the way, do you know of a guy named Hyuuga Junpei?"
"Huh…Hyuuga?!" Kiyoshi was flabbergasted and then laughed again. "Hahahaha! Yeas, I know that guy. He's my former teammate and captain at Seirin High School…"
"Ah, I see—huh, Seirin?" Hikigaya then wasn;t expecting to hear this response. "Then that measn you have become teammates with Kuroko and Kagami?"
"Ah, yes, those two brats." Kiyoshi looked at the window. "It seems that our club is doing fine now with Kuroko at the helm. By the way, how did you know about Hyuuga?"
"I have accidentally met him last week when we had dinner outside after we had a meeting with Akashi and the rest. I didn't directly spoke to him but I heard about him from Kuroko." Hikigaya recounts how the megane nearly wanted to kill Izuki because of his puns. "I heard he's a good clutch shooter."
"Yeah…oh, by the way, I haven't told you my real objective here." Kiyoshi sheepishly apologized. "Actually, Akashi himself didn't know my reasons for coming here but even so, it was actually I who asked him your locations. In short, I have a request for you."
But before Hikigaya can even open his mouth, Yukinoshita butted into their conversation.
"Kiyoshi-san, whatever your request is, you must bring it up to me." The pale beauty said with her menacing cold eyes but for some reason, Kiyoshi didn't even feel the atmosphere that was beginning to become colder due to the Ice Queen baring her fangs. "Besides, the fact that you're here means that your case would be a part of our club activities. Besides…"
"I know…" Kiyoshi cut her off. "But my request isn't something you three wouldn't understand immediately."
"What do you mean, Kiyoshi-senpai?" Komachi asked politely.
"Let's just say that it's too much sensitive." Kiyoshi made a small smile then turned his gaze to Hikigaya. "Hikigaya, you're the only one that I needed in this seemingly small task. But I have to say that you have to prepare yourself."
"Uh…sure…" Hikigaya didn't know what to say at this point.
"Well, do you know Maji Burger? Let's meet tomorrow at 12 pm and don't worry, Akashi got you covered." Kiyoshi then took out a printed letter, which is similar to the one used by Akashi to have Hikigaya come to Teiko for the selection match just last week. "Well, that's all. I'll be leaving now. See ya tomorrow." He stood up from his spot and exited through the sliding door.
There was a moment of silence in the Service Club room before Komachi spoke to break the deafening stillness. "Neh, onii-chan, isn't that Kiyoshi the Iron Heart?"
"Yeah, that's the second best center in high school basketball, only losing to Murasakibara." Hikigaya explains as he clutches the letter in his hand. "Well, it looks like I'll be absent tomorrow again, though this time, you can't come along." There was a hint of glee in his voice.
"I'm beginning to feel afraid for Kiyoshi-san's safety…" Yukinoshita muttered.
"Oi, what did you say!"
Meanwhile, Hiratsuka was beginning to get irritated in the teacher's lounge. "What?! Hikigaya's got another excuse letter courtesy of that Akashi brat?! Dammit, I should have blocked them from entering here in Sobu from the very beginning!" She knew, however, that at the back of her mind, it would be near impossible to do it since she would go up against Akashi and disobedience to the Red Emperor is something the other Generation of Miracles, especially Midorima, wouldn't even waste time to think about.
"Hmmm…that Akashi is really something else." Coach Atsugi, the PE teacher who stood as the coach of the basketball team, touched his goatee. "To think he is the shortest out of them and yet was able to demand total disobedience from them. Even Hikigaya, whose personality is strong, had no choice but to bow down."
"Not. Not really." The memory of Hikigaya standing up against Akashi was still fresh on the female teacher's mind. "Hikigaya's a special exception. He already defied him once and got away with it. Well, I did heard that the blue haired guy who was Seirin's captain this year also disobeyed him once and was Hikigaya's closest thing to a real friend. By the way, I think I'll meet with the principal regarding with this letter though I think with Akashi behind everything, the principal won't think twice signing it." There was a bitter pill on her voice.
"Good luck, then." Atsugi chuckled as he drinks his coffee. But even before Hiratsuka can even move, the door unexpectedly opened and it revealed the most surprising person.
"Ah, good morning, Hiratsuka-san and Atsugi-san."
"Huh?!" The mere voice of Akashi sent the busty woman and the coach shivering, with the latter almost spitting his coffee out. "Ah, I'm sorry for the intrusion." The redhead apologized as he quickly takes a seat. "I'm here for an urgent business so may I speak to you both?"
"Well, what do you need, young man?" Atsugi was civil enough not to let his anger arise from Akashi's seemingly lack of regard for Sobu's policy against outsiders.
"This coming May 1 would be the 90th anniversary of the Japanese Basketball Association and it coincided with the fact that the Tokyo Olympics would be held here." Akashi didn't skip a beat as he went on. "As part of the celebrations, the JBA officials requested all former players of Teiko Middle School to gather for a charity match against players from the visiting NBA veterans and players from the . The money that would be collected would be sued for projects such as education for the needy."
"And?" Atsugi didn't know where this is going to.
"Since all of the Generation of Miracles would participate, which means Hikigaya would participate as well, we'll all be using our own school uniforms which is a way of representing their schools." Akashi explains. "I believe Hikigaya doesn't have his own uniform so I'll be giving you an ultimatum of three days to produce a separate one for him. I have his measurements here so no need to disturb him for now since he is on an important mission." He then smiled smugly at Hiratsuka, who only glared in response.
"I see…" It doesn't sound like a threat but Atsugi was compelled anyway. "Okay, I'll phone it immediately."
"And another thing, we can't use the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium since it would be renovated for the Olympic Event so if ever, we'll be borrowing this school's gymnasium since it's big enough." Akashi said in a deep voice that even Atsugi didn't dare to disobey. "You got that?"
"Ye-Yeah, young man." The poor coach can't do anything as Akashi stand up and said. "That's all. Good bye and thank you for accommodating me." He then leaves immediately.
That's why I hate brats like him. Hiratsuka angrily thought in her mind.
The next day, Hikigaya and Kiyoshi were no walking in the streets of Tokyo. After meeting him in Maji Burger, the two had a small meeting which included eating at the fast food chain. While they were eating, Kiyoshi told him about the upcoming charity event, to which Hikigaya respnds by saying they were all informed last night about it. Unknown to him, Aomine actually complained all day when Akashi announced his grand plans as it was too sudden and that the tanned ace of Touou is getting lazy to go to Chiba. Murasakibara also wailed about it and Midorima cursed about it being too inconvenient.
"Besides, it's too hassle." Hikigaya said to Kiyoshi while they were walking.
"But you would be up against NBA players." Kiyoshi said. "Don't you love the challenge of fighting against one of the best?"
"Well, it's not like I don't want that but…" Hikigaya paused for a moment. "We'll be fighting against the best this coming August. It seems that we're basically torturing our bodies for the sake of this so-called "Charity Event." He put air quotes in it.
After a few moments, they stopped as Kiyoshi asked him to halt. "This is the palce where we will fulfil my request."
"Request? But…" Hikigaya noticed that the place is too unimaginable for a tear-jerking request (if ever) of the former Seirin center. "This is a cemetery. What would we even do here? Besides, you haven't really told me about your request…"
"I know. I'll tell it to you when we get to the gravesite of someone I know in the past." Kiyoshi said and then they proceeded to walk. While they were walking, Hikigaya can't help but feel envious of those who are already resting in this place. Those who have departed this materialistic world are now better off in their peaceful sanctuary than those who still suffer from this world's unjust system. Hikigaya can't help but formulate that thought as he continued to follow the center.
That was until they stopped in front of a small haka or family grave with a stone monument that has the name "Taichi Hironori" in Kanji and engraved at the front of the monument. Hikigaya can't help but watch Kiyoshi lay some flowers and a card in the incense holder.
"Uhm…Kiyoshi-san…who's Taichi Hironori?" The boy with rotten eyes can't help but ask.
Kiyoshi faced him and gave off a pained smile. "Ah, I see now that this is the perfect moment to reveal to you my request. Basically, this guy used to be my teammate in the Shoei basketball team…"
Kiyoshi paused as all of the sudden, he had to fight back tears in his eyes that was threatening to escape. Hikigaya offered him a tissue and after that, Kiyoshi continued his expression.
"He committed suicide after our last game versus Teiko's prodigies…He can't bear the pain he has felt…"
"Huh?!"
Unbeknownst to them, three girl from afar were busy observing the two boys, with one of them having to cover her mouth in an effort to remain unconcealed.
Sneak Peak: Of course, Hikigaya didn't expect to hear this from one of their former opponents. But can he bring peace to the hapless soul that took his own life when he himself was a part of that demon team that caused him to sink into despair and into killing himself?