A/N:

Hi!

First of all, Happy Birthday to our lovely Akashi! :) and again, thanks to all the faves and follows! T.T

Okay, I ended the previous chapter with a bit of a cliffhanger, sooooo here it is~


A fine morning during the first week of May and a middle-school girl whose thoughts were fluttering along with the fresh and green leaves of trees – swaying, as if they're waving at the world to broadcast their reappearance.

What a sight to look at, as of the moment.

On the other hand, the middle-school girl looked back to last Saturday night.

...

When she got home, she immediately texted Nijimura,

"I'm home. How's your sister?"

However, it was only when she was about to sleep that she received a reply from him.

"Sorry, ran out of bat. My sister's fine. She's just being stupid."

Another one came in,

"Really sorry for earlier. I'll make it up to you next time. Ice cream?"

And a last,

"Good night."

She replied,

"Good to hear your sister's fine."

"Then, ice cream it is, senpai. Good night."

...

Honestly, she was still bothered by his worry-stricken face during the phone-call – that etched into her mind. Nevertheless, she convinced herself, 'He was acting like usual earlier during morning practice, so I believe he's okay'

"What do you think, Irosuzuka-chan?"

A voice brought her up to the present, as she was greeted by a sight of blue and pink eyes looking expectantly at her. Walking together after morning practice has somehow became a routine for this trio, but only during the days Momoi was called to assist in the first string.

Blinking at them sheepishly, she asked, "Ah, sorry, but what were we talking about again?"

Pink eyes surveyed her worriedly, "You seem to be anxious for the second string."

With a carefree grin, Aomine commented, "Oi, don't sweat about it too much"

In return, Tsumiko gave them a tight-lipped smile and nodded.

Momoi's expression shifted back to her initial one, as she explained, "Anyways, we were just wondering if aliens exist. I say that they do, because aren't there sightings of U.F.O.s before? And hey, isn't it weird if there's only us in the whole universe?" Shooting the taller boy a judging gaze, she further said,"But Dai-chan is being Dai-chan and says that they aren't real because he doesn't know any alien basketball player."

The tan boy rolled his eyes at his childhood friend and childishly retaliated, "Of course they're not. Why do you keep believing in aliens and ghosts, anyway? If they're real, then shouldn't they be smart and cool enough to learn how to play basketball?" With slight scorn in his voice, he continued, "Unless, those aliens are actually lame and boring. Don't be stupid, Satsuki."

And they started arguing again.

Without even having the chance to give her opinion, Tsumiko bid them farewell as they near her classroom. Even when she entered the classroom, she could still hear their bickering voices down the hall, something like "Mou Dai-chan, we didn't even get to hear Irosuzuka-chan's answer" and "Ha? That's because you're so noisy, Satsuki"

If aliens were real, those two were probably aliens lost in their own world.


"Okay that's all, class. Irosuzuka-san please bring the notebooks to the faculty room. Oh, Akashi-kun and Midorima-kun, please help her. Thank you" , their Math teacher, Anjou-sensei, instructed, as she prepared to leave the classroom.

"Yes, sensei" they chorused.

Green, white, and red were now quietly walking down the hallway with notebooks on their hands, with the addition of a gray wolf stuffed toy on the green ones' left hand.

A cool voice killed the silence, "Why do you think were we chosen to bring these notebooks?"

A deep voice answered with a question, "What do you mean, Akashi?"

"Do you think it's pure coincidence that we're all members of the basketball club?" the shorter boy asked with an amused expression, as if he already had an answer to his own question.

Silence once again enveloped them, as the taller boy and the girl were pondering about the question, whereas the one who asked the question simply waited for their response.

A feminine voice was the one who broke the silence this time, "Ah, we're here."

Once they were allowed to go inside, they gave their greetings and quickly found Anjou-sensei's desk.

"Thanks, you three", the math teacher then gazed at Tsumiko, "Irosuzuka-san, I noticed you weren't doing really well on your previous quizzes." She paused to cast a glance at the two boys, "I thought that there might be something wrong, so I also want to get the opinion of other members of the basketball team."

'So that's why' was what the students, except for one red-head, thought. Upon realization of the situation, Tsumiko felt ashamed of herself, as she spoke, "I apologize, Anjou-sensei. I might have been really focused on the basketball team. I'll do better, sensei", lowering her head – mostly to cover her embarrassed face.

"Sensei, Irosuzuka got promoted to the second string in just three weeks, so the results of her previous quizzes might indeed be the consequence of her doing her duties as a coach. However, this also shows that she is hardworking and capable" Akashi pointed out in his usual confident tone. Tsumiko raised her head to flash him a grateful smile. She received a small smile in return.

Anjou-sensei subsequently eyed Midorima expectantly. Hesitating for a bit, Midorima added, "She also works as a manager of the first-string during morning practice", along with his mannerism of adjusting his glasses.

Satisfied with the following information, Anjou-sensei clasped her hands while saying, "Anyway, I was just worried since your first midterm exams are nearing and I need to remind you to not forget about your academics." Showing her students a grin, she ended the topic, "Congrats on your promotion Irosuzuka-san, and good luck."

The trio gave their teacher a polite bow ,"Thank you, sensei"

When they were out of room, a baritone voice remarked, "I can't believe I got called too because of your carelessness, Irosuzuka"

Flustered, she squeaked out a little "I'm sorry, you two, and thank you"

"No need to apologize, Irosuzuka. Though, you might want to slow things down a little" Akashi assured and advised.

"Well, I guess so? I mean, I'm not as great as you guys."

Glancing at his side, he watched the shorter girl tuck a loose strand of silver behind her ear, as she looked briefly at the ground, "You flatter us, Irosuzuka"

Her slightly widened eyes met his with awe, "But you really are. You two are geniuses in both basketball and in academics."

Seeing how she was not breaking eye contact, he returned back the compliment, "Well, you're an aspiring coach – a promising one at that. It's just fair to say that you feel more pressure and have more workload than the two of us"

Her eyes lit up as her lips tugged upwards, "Now you're flattering me, Akashi-san"

One particular person was witnessing this exchange between his two classmates. Getting slightly annoyed with the formalities the other two shared, Midorima excused himself with a "I'm getting lunch" before leaving the two.

Continuing their walk to the classroom, the girl asked the boy, "Akashi-san, how about you? Do you already have lunch?"

"I do." was his short response.

"Would you like to join us, then?", she asked as she faced the slightly taller boy, who was looking straight ahead.

With her question, he turned towards her as he politely declined the offer, "No, thank you. I need to be somewhere too"

She nodded in understanding, "I see."

As they reached their classroom, Akashi simply got a bento from his bag before nodding a goodbye to her and exiting the classroom.

"Oh, what's this? The children of the Akashi group and Irosuzuka group are growing close?" Mizuki said, mimicking reporters while fixing the ribbon on her head. The said child of the Irosuzuka group only shook her head at her friend's antics, as she took a seat across her.

"Idiot. The daughter of the Irosuzuka group already likes someone else" Chitose said while wiggling her eyebrows at the girl on her right.

Too taken aback, the daughter of the Irosuzuka group gripped her chopsticks tightly and stuttered,"W-what do you mean? I don't..How?"

The stoic Chitose mirrored the surprised mien that adorned Tsumiko's face, except for the latter's light pink cheeks, "So you do like someone?"

Tsumiko gaped.

She was just tricked.

Mizuki squealed, "Oh my God, Irosuzuka-chan! Who? If it's not Akashi-kun, then...Midorima-kun? Or or, is it a childhood friend from Kyoto? Or someone who moved to the U.S. during third grade because of his father's work and happens to like basketball too or-"

"NO"

It was the two girls' time to gape at the usually soft-spoken white-haired girl's outburst.

Tsumiko cleared her throat before continuing, "Pardon, but I believe I don't have anyone I like…yet. I'm still figuring it out"

She noticed Mizuki's gaping face transform into a very excited one, so before her friend could even burst flowers, sparkles, and hearts, Tsumiko interrupted her with a firm, "But, I still can't tell you. What I can tell you is that it's not Akashi-san nor Midorima-san nor a childhood friend from Kyoto nor whatever that very specific last one was."

And just like that, her two friends were silenced. They simply nodded in response before eating their lunch.


The aspiring coach's first training session with the second-string had already ended well, and she now found herself inside the coach's office, sitting across Coach Shirogane, with Coach Matsuyuki, the second-string coach, standing beside the head coach.

"We'll be having some changes to our plans. We found that the weekly practice match might be too much, especially since the midterm exams are coming up. So we decided to have just one practice match the week after the midterm exams. However, the practice game will be against Kouen Junior High" Coach Shirogane informed her.

Having mixed feelings about the changes, she voiced out her main concern, "Coach, thank you for your consideration, but what if the team loses?"

"Let's worry about that if it comes – that is, if it comes"

Somehow, Tsumiko could swear that Coach Shirogane implied that there was no 'losing' option.

She must win.

"I understand, coach" Tsumiko stood up, then bowed.


"I don't understand, coach. Why does Coach Shirogane seem to be so confident that I can lead the team and win?" Tsumiko questioned, after being escorted outside the office by Coach Matsuyuki, who happened to also be her teacher in Japanese.

"You have to have more faith in yourself and in your team, Irosuzuka."

She agreed. Teikou was known to have a one of the strongest basketball team in junior high level. From what she had observed earlier, the second-string members were impressive themselves, so it was no wonder that Teikou's second-string dominated the second-string matches.

That said, she was still troubled. Maybe, they really should take things slow? She was still a first-year, right?

"Anyway, it might have something to do with his plan of making a team of stellar first-years", he added.

Okay, she just didn't understand even more.

With a puzzled expression on her face, she asked, "What does that mean, coach?"

Pitying his student, he tried to update her, "You see, I was told that another first-year was accepted to the first-string immediately after trying-out earlier. The head coach also has his eye on Akashi, by the way. He's one of the top candidates for the vice-captain position. There must be really something with you first-years"

The aspiring coach finally grasped the high expectations the head coach has for her and the other first-years. "Then that means, I really should do my best and win this game, coach"

"That's right, but, hey, don't forget your studies. Anjou-sensei told me about your quizzes earlier." Coach Matsuyuki then folded his arms, "That reminds me, your last quiz in my subject wasn't really good either"

"Ah, I'm really sorry about that coach..sensei." Guiltily, she pressed her palms together in front of her face, as she was once again reminded that she was still indeed a first-year student.


Another calm May morning and yet, a middle-school was girl rushing towards the first-string gymnasium.

"Sorry I'm late." She panted for a little while, "I woke up later than usual"

The second-year captain lightly tapped her back, "It's okay. You're probably tired from second-string training."

After placing her things down, Tsumiko caught sight of gray on the court. It was a similar shade to Midorima's lucky item yesterday, a gray wolf stuffed toy. The new gray hair seemed to be familiar, but she can't remember when and where she saw that hair.

Nijimura followed her pondering gaze, and answered the unspoken question, "That's Haizaki Shougo, a first-year who was accepted after trying out yesterday"

"Haizaki Shougo" Tsumiko repeated, as she watched the said boy, who was having a one-on-one moment with Aomine.

Haizaki was about to steal the ball from Aomine – or at least, that was what he was planning to do – when someone shouted.

"Oi Haizaki! Come over here for a minute"

Still new to the environment, the ash-haired first year was alert enough to react once his name was called. He faced the source of that voice, a certain captain – realizing his mistake as he felt the tan boy swiftly passing through him.

'Damn this fuc'

"Hurry up, Haizaki! And you guys, just continue practicing."

The rookie first-year approached the captain, his temper getting ahead of his newbie position, as he was ready to rant at the captain and curse at him for ruining his chance to steal the ball from Aomine. However, before the gray-haired boy could even start, he became distracted by the white-haired girl beside the raven-haired boy.

"Introduce yourself" was the oldest's command, as soon as the younger boy arrived in front of them.

"Haizaki Shougo" "Irosuzuka Tsumiko" the two first-years both said at the same time, as they both examined each other's faces.

Nijimura face-palmed at his mistake. He was about to clarify that he was only asking the ash-haired boy to introduce himself when,

"You!" the two first-years both said again at the same time.

Smirking amusedly, the male first-year continued, "You're that girl who got pushed to the ground twice during the first day!"

"Y-you're the arrogant one who helped me up!", the female first-year countered in the rudest tone she could muster, but her words didn't match up with her tone.

Much to Tsumiko's growing annoyance, Haizaki's smirk only grew wider, as he shrugged, "I'm just a very helpful person. So what are you doing here tiny-san?"

She popped a vein at this, "It's Irosuzuka Tsumiko. I'm a manager of the first string and a coach of the second string."

Nijimura, somehow, also found himself feeling annoyed for some reason.

Obviously surprised, Haizaki's smug expression changed into a skeptical one, "No shit?"

"No shit. She'll soon be a first-string coach, so you better treat her right, brat. Now, go back to practice", a deep voice belonging to the captain interrupted.

Haizaki threw a dirty look towards the second-year, but as he saw the second-year captain's stern appearance, he gulped a bit and jogged towards the others. Damn him.

Once the first-year left them, with a straight-face, Nijimura spilled out what he got from the two first-years' conversation, "You got pushed to the ground twice."

Smack.

His left arm was the victim of the younger girl's slap. Pretending to be offended, he playfully turned towards her – ready to lecture about the first-year's action towards a senpai. What met him, instead, was a fiery expression from the silver-haired girl, whose determined gaze was following the gray-haired boy.

Her next words caused him to look away from her, as he allowed the corners of his mouth curl upwards – letting out a hum of agreement.

"I'll be a first-string coach"


A/N:

Hello Haizaki! Yay :D Hmm, a certain blonde soon? *wiggles eyebrows* (lol)

Well, if you noticed, there were a lot of trios in this chapter. It's kinda like the theme for this chapter (I guess, lol) Oh, and did you notice Midorima's lucky item? ;)

Also, do you believe in aliens? Do you believe in what Nijimura said in his text? o.O Let me know in the reviews~~ (pls talk to me ;A; lol)

Anyways, I wish you all an advanced Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!