Here is the lastest chapter! Now begins the new and long? "Sports festival Arc". Technically, the "Kuroko Arc" is not wrapped up yet - we're halfway through. I just wanted to take a break from the heavy stuff for a while, and what's better than a festival to do so?
Also, I heard you guys in the reviews. Most of you wish for more interaction with/between the GoM, then you're in for a treat. I'll make sure you have your fill of them in this arc, and in the futur chapters as well. It's not everytime that I have the opportunity to gather the whole GoM in the same place, at the same moment, especially for a funny purpose. I'll throw in as many characters as possible, meaning those who didn't have any chance/don't usually show up will at some point. Even Kise.
One last thing, thank you all for reading, following or adding this story to your favourite. I want to give my special thanks to those who have taken the time to review and answer my questions in the previous chapter. I won't let you down! Lastly, one big thanks to you, the kind and brave soul who has recently joined me, Rai, for your excellent job as my beta-reader!
There were still more than thirty minutes before the opening ceremony of the sports festival. Yet, the venue was already bustling with families and the best spots to view the event, which were near the running tracks, were already secured by the most fervent families with their colorful mats. Everyone made themselves comfortable while waiting for the festivity to begin. The pop music playing through the speakers overlapped with the small chatters created a somewhat lively atmosphere.
Meanwhile, most of the students were doing their warm-ups and stretches on the soccer field. A long and tiring day awaited them. Asaka had partnered with her classmate and class representative, Yoshiwara, at her request. The glasses wearing girl told her that she always got hurt during the sports day because she didn't do her warm-up correctly, so she wanted to warm up with her and get some advice seeing that these sorts of physical exercises were part of Ritsu's routine.
"Y-Yoshiwara-san! I can't do anymore!"
Yoshiwara, whose mind seemed elsewhere, had forgotten about her warm-up partner and kept pushing her back down.
"Oh, sorry, Asaka-chan! You're not hurt?" she yelped, taking the pressure off her partner's back. Ritsu jerked back and sighed in relief. For the warm-up, she had to lean forward and reach out to her toes. But Ritsu couldn't, and Yoshiwara had been forcing her to lean forward with her push.
"I'm okay," Ritsu replied with a wry smile as she bent slightly and rubbed her sore legs, which have almost been stretched to their limit. Now she knew the reason why her classmate would get hurt in sporting activities if she stretched her muscles in such an extreme way.
"Hm, I always thought that athletes were very flexible. Exercises like toe-touching should be a piece of cake for you, Asaka-chan."
That said, the bespectacled girl turned to Akashi next to them. As if on cue, the red-haired teen reached out to his toes with ease as Sudo - a classmate - carefully pushed him forward. Given Akashi's flexibility, Ritsu could tell he could even grasp his toes if he wanted to.
"As expected of Akashi! Nothing's impossible for you!" Sudo exclaimed, a bit impressed.
Ritsu tittered at the display, even though Akashi wasn't doing it to show off. It's true that she lacked in flexibility despite doing sports – just a bit, or so she wanted to convince herself but it seemed that her body was still stiff enough to have her coach and teammates throw remarks at her regarding that every now and then. She brought it upon herself, though. Since she started volleyball, she barely did stretching exercises by herself outside practice hours. Hardly, in fact.
"But Yoshiwara don't ruin everything. We can't afford to have Akashi or her be hurt before the event starts. They're the star athletes of our class."
"I know, I know. But that goes for you too, Sudo-kun," The said girl replied as she didn't see him doing his warm-ups properly, "I can't believe you volunteered to run in most events in Akashi-kun's stead."
"None of the guys were up to take Akashi's place in all the bloody and sweaty events, and everyone wanted him to participate in every one of them to win. Cut him some slack!"
Yoshiwara pouted a little as she couldn't counter him. Back at the class meeting a month ago, the whole class had pushed all hopes and expectations on Akashi alone, saying that nobody made a better challenger than him to lead the class victorious. The problem was that it was impossible for him to participate, not because he couldn't physically do it, but he had another priority that was given to him: the basketball club's exhibition game with the soccer club. And if Akashi was to participate in every event in addition to the exhibition games, he would be dead exhausted by the end of the day, or even before then. So under their homeroom teacher's recommendation and the sake of class 1-A's prince, it had been decided that Akashi would only participate in three events of his choice.
"Besides," Sudo rubbed his nose and grinned in a mischievous way, "I didn't have the chance to show my greatness disguised as an old man during the play at the school festival! So the sports day will make up for it and my popularity will definitely skyrocket if I can lead our class to victory! The day I'll become popular with girls has come, baby!" He winked at the two girls with a smile straight out of a toothpaste advertisement, "And honestly, it's so unfair to see all the girls flock to Akashi like bees to a honeypot only because he's been blessed by nature!"
"I knew it, you're not really doing it for the good reason. I hoped for a nobler one...Like you've volunteered yourself for Akashi-kun and the class' sake, but here it comes down to girls again...", Yoshiwara said as she exhaled a little sigh, "And Akashi-kun can hear you, by the way."
Sudo shrugged his shoulders, then flashed a big smile at his warm-up partner and wriggled his brows as if to send him a subliminal message that only boys could understand.
"Yoshiwara-chan~ you just don't understand what drives a man's heart! And has nobody told you that nothing's nobler than a man's heart?" Rather than not understanding, it was just too silly of a reason for the two girls to even listen to him. Under their suspicious looks, Sudo sought support from the redhead, "You tell them, Akashi!"
"We can count on him. He has showed up to all practice sessions after school. Whatever his reasons for participating are, he doesn't lack determination to win, that's enough reason to believe in him," the red-haired teen affirmed, bringing little tears to the corner of his classmate's eyes, "It doesn't take much to drive a man to act yet what he can accomplish is nothing to scoff at."
"Damn, Akashi! You totally understand what it means, being a man!" Moved by the trust his fellow comrade had in him, Sudo gave him a nudge and shouted out loud, "Yoosh! I'm raring to go anytime! I'll bring you all gold on a silver platter! Just watch me!"
"If you say so, Akashi-kun," Yoshiwara chose to trust in his words, "I'm still worried though. Of all events you could choose, you had to participate in that – The three-legged assault course! That's the fifty-points event. Why didn't you let Akashi-kun run in that one at least?"
Generally, each event gives twenty points to the winning class, but a few of them, like the mixed relay or the kibasen (cavalry battle) add a bit of spice to the inter-class competition and give thirty points. However, among all events, the three-legged assault course was the greatest of all with its fifty points. With only that, any class could see their chance of victory double.
"Why, you ask? That's pretty obvious. How can I make it big if I don't win this super event?" Sudo answered lightly, earning Yoshiwara's disapproving gaze, "Don't glare at me like that. If you want to hear a reason, why not just ask him directly? Akashi wasn't against it!"
Again, the class representative had no counter-argument. When Akashi and Sudo had to choose the events they wanted to run in, Akashi had let his classmate choose first and gone along with his choices without question, much to the others' dismay. The whole class had protested against Sudo's participation in the three-legged assault course as they all wished for Akashi to compete in this special event in order to win. But thanks to Akashi's smooth talk, the class had eventually accepted Sudo's choices. Though Ritsu was kind of curious to know why the redhead didn't compete in this one.
The same curiosity could be read on Yoshiwara's face as she peered at the red-haired boy but gave up instantly on asking the question, "Still, I think Akashi-kun would have been a better choice. That event isn't your ordinary obstacle course; you have to use your brain out there too."
"Ah? And you're implying I don't have one?" Sudo exclaimed, upset.
"Not as sharp and quick as Akashi-kun's."
"That's why Asaka's running with me! Man, I'm so lucky to have such a cute third leg~! I don't mind if we remained tied up together for the rest of our lives, sweetheart," Sudo spouted that cheap line as he cupped her hand with his own and locked his gaze with hers in the same manner a host would do to capture one of his customer's hearts, "I'm certain we're destined to be tog―"
"Sudo, they're calling for you," Akashi's voice broke in.
"Who?" He darted his eyes around and saw a group of boys motioning for him to come. As he recognized the faces of his friends, he leapt to his feet and went see them.
"What an easy-going guy," Yoshiwara commented. She then took a glimpse at the time displayed on her watch, "Twenty minutes left, huh."
"You should probably remove your watch, Yoshiwara-san. You might get hurt if you keep it on during the events," Ritsu advised her, glancing at the stylish design of the watch. It would be a shame to have it broken because of a careless move.
"Oh, you're right. I'm so used to have it on my wrist that I don't pay attention to it anymore," She took off her watch while scanning the sea of families, carefully looking for someone, "Hmm...I'd better ask my grandpa to hold onto it for the meantime."
Yoshiwara excused herself and blended into the crowd. The venue was now filled with families while some of the members of the festival executive committee were finishing preparations of the stage on which the head of the school would give his speech for the opening ceremony. It was placed just in front of the white canopies used by the school staff.
Near them, Ritsu's eyes stopped on the big scoreboard on which each class from A to E, first to third year, was displayed. Although it was an all-school event, the competition was divided by grade so as to keep the organization of the event as simple as possible.
All scores were down to zero but by the end of the day, one class from each grade would emerge victorious. And to do so, the three-legged assault course was the event to win at all costs.
"Fifty points..." Ritsu mused, then turned to her friend, "Akashi-kun, do you like riddles?"
"You're talking about the three-legged assault course?" The redhead immediately caught on what her question was about.
As the name suggests, the three-legged assault course was your typical obstacle course, except that there were riddles along the race. Behind it was the riddle club, which was quite reputed in Teikō for coming up and organizing fun events combining both sports and intellectual games together. Among their best events, the Stamp Rally competition at the school festival was the most popular in school.
"I don't dislike solving them. Why the question all of sudden?"
"You didn't look too eager to participate in it, so I thought it must be because of the riddles."
Though Ritsu didn't believe it to be the actual reason of him not participating. As if a few riddles would be enough to stop Akashi from doing what he likes.
"My participation wasn't absolutely necessary for us to win. I trust our class to emerge victorious without relying on one single person only."
"We agree on that point. But it takes times to solve a riddle and every second counts during a race. Your quick wit would have been perfect for this kind of event."
"As well as good legs are. Sudo has a good sprinting speed."
"What do you base that on?" Ritsu tilted her head, "I always see him fooling around in P.E. classes."
"The fried pork cutlet sandwich," Akashi said mysteriously, earning an astonished gaze from the girl, "Those are limited and only sold twice a week at the cafeteria, on Tuesdays and Fridays. However, Sudo never fails to come back with it on those days."
Upon hearing the last statement, Ritsu immediately understood what he was getting at. The fried pork cutlet sandwiches were extremely popular in Teikō for its top-class ingredients. Anybody who has a chance to taste it could almost become addicted to it. The problem was, only twenty of them are sold at lunchtime, and therefore the cafeteria turns into a huge battleground on Tuesdays and Fridays. So the fact that Sudo could get his hand on those sandwiches every time was very impressive. That was quite the challenge. To accomplish that, the boy must be running fast and have good knowledge of the school grounds for shortcuts. No wonder Akashi believed in his capacity.
"A man's heart cannot be underestimated, I see..." She muttered while remembering Sudo's words. Momoi wasn't wrong when she said men were truly simple beings at heart. On that thought, she glanced over at Akashi and couldn't help smiling, "That aside, isn't it meaningless to be good at running if we're stuck at a riddle?"
"He has you. Two brains are better than one. Also, I suppose the riddles won't be hard to figure out, it's a race after all. It should take you less than five minutes to solve them."
Ritsu chuckled in relief, "You make it sound so ea— Ouch!"
A small ball hit her in the head. It bounced on the ground before Akashi picked it up. The five rainbow-colored members of the All-star rangers were printed on it.
"Are you okay?"
"Compared to a volleyball, this is nothing."
Akashi looked in the direction from where the ball came and crossed the gaze of a five-years old boy fidgeting behind the small fence enclosing the running tracks — certainly the owner of the ball. He and Ritsu went to him and gave the ball back.
"Ritsu!"
The girl perked up. A couple of mats away, an elegant woman with chestnut colored hair was softly waving at her.
"Mom?" Ritsu exclaimed in surprise, then walked up to her, bringing Akashi along with her, "When did you get here?"
"Not long ago. We left shortly after you did, but your brother absolutely wanted to buy something for you before we came here."
"Something for me?"
Her mother nodded, "A lucky item. I wonder, since when did this boy come to believe in horoscopes? He was watching it this morning and suddenly shouted he needed to bring you your lucky item or disaster will befall on you," She let out faint sigh, "Those hero live action shows must have gotten into his head..."
...Or Midorima's obsession for horoscopes must have rubbed off on him. How much influence did he have on her little brother? She'd better keep a good eye on Shōhei and his relationship with Midorima in the future. The greenhead was a good guy but she would rather avoid having her little brother turned into a horoscope maniac just like him. One maniac was a handful already.
"Is he your friend?"
Ritsu snapped out of her thoughts and introduced Akashi to her mother, "Ah, yes. This is my friend, Akashi Seijūrō; we're in the same class."
The woman quirked an eyebrow at the name Akashi and scrutinized the boy.
"Akashi Masaomi's son?"
"I am. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance," Akashi answered with a polite smile.
"I see, I couldn't mistake the red hair and eyes. You resemble your mother, Seijūrō-kun."
"Did you know her?"
Ritsu's mother gave him a soft smile, "I only spoke a couple of times with your father and her before I retired as a pianist. She was a charming woman."
So there she had her answer. Akashi took after his mother. Yet, Ritsu wasn't able to completely rejoice about it. What's with that use of past tense? Although the silly question popped in her head, she already knew what it meant. When she remembered asking Akashi if his parents would come see him for Sports day, she felt awfully bad. She must have been really tactless the other day, even though Akashi didn't seem to mind it.
She glanced at the red-haired boy and sighed, calling herself an idiot.
"...By the way, where is Shōhei? I don't see him around," Ritsu spoke up so as to change the topic.
"He is with one of your friends. Midorima Shinnosuke...was it?"
"It's Shintarō, mom. So you've run into him..."
"Ah, Nee-san! Here you are."
Speaking of the devil. At their sight, Shōhei ran up to the group, dragging a reluctant Midorima along.
"Look at what I have for you!"
Grinning, her little brother happily showed her what looked like a big totem pole. Ritsu forced a smile at the object pushed into her arms, already having an idea of what it was when she added up all the present facts. Midorima plus strange-looking object equals lucky item.
"It's your lucky item! Be grateful that I came just in time to give it to you!"
"Say, Shōhei, since when are you believing in horoscopes and all?"
She had to ask. Her brother was starting to go down the wrong road.
"What are you talking about? I don't believe in that crap," the chesnut-haired boy said.
Midorima frowned in a disapproving way. Oha-Asa Horoscope was his religion after all.
"I thought it'd be cool if I gave you a super item and you win thanks to it! Heroes are bestowed with great weapons or items at some point to be victorious. Look, you didn't win the volleyball championship because you didn't have a secret weapon or item to boost your performance. You're not strong enough to do without it!"
His bluntness stung. It hit right where it hurts.
"So when I heard on TV that your lucky item was a totem pole, it totally fit the bill! A mystical object that will bring you luck, let the light of victory shine upon you and ward off disasters! Isn't that cool?"
Ritsu gave a brief look at her mother, hoping she would step in. She only sighed in resignation.
"I didn't have enough time to find it though, or we'd be late for the opening ceremony."
"Where did you get it then?"
"Midori-nii-san came with one. He lent it to me for the day when I mentioned to him that it was your lucky item."
Ritsu stared at the said boy in astonishment. No matter how much she thought about it, the fact that Midorima had that big totem pole with him - her lucky item of the day - and kindly lent it to Shōhei without a question wasn't mere coincidence. She might go ahead of herself, but perhaps Midorima had brought it with the intention of giving it to her. Why else would he take the trouble to bring a big totem pole that wasn't even his lucky item with him?
"Eh, you took the trouble to..." She laughed a little, "Hehe, thank you, Midorima-kun."
Midorima looked annoyed and kept glaring at her as she came to guess his intentions.
"You sure need it, Asaka," He stated while pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, "Accidents are common during sports day and your horoscope is terrible today. It says that Aries have to be very careful of high places."
"High places? I don't think I'm at risk of anything then since we're on the soccer field."
The way she brushed off his warning made the green-haired boy huff. Ritsu examined the totem pole briefly and wondered if she had to keep it with her all day long like Midorima does every day. She wouldn't have minded something a little bit smaller.
"You picked the big size. It's fifty centimeters tall and it's quite heavy, as if I'm holding a log."
"The bigger it is, the more fortune smiles on you."
"Really?" Ritsu and Shōhei said at the same time, both doubting that far-fetched logic.
"But I can't run with that. Shōhei, can you keep it for me?"
"The charm won't work if you don't have it near you. Why do you think I always have my lucky items on me?"
Ritsu kept her mouth shut. All she was about to say would have only make the pulsating vein on his forehead bigger. That said if he knew she had to keep the lucky item on her, why didn't he choose something that fit in a pocket in the first place? Her horoscope of the day may be terrible but Midorima only made it worse by giving her this big totem pole, even though she did appreciate the thought. It'd be a miracle if she didn't get hurt or knocked somebody out with this lethal weapon by the end of the day.
"In that case, let me keep it for you, Asaka," Akashi suggested.
"Huh? Won't that bother you?"
"Not at all. I'm already used to dealing with all kinds of cumbersome items at the club. During games, Midorima always leaves them around the club or on the bench. I suppose that as long as you have it in your sight, the charm should more or less work. You needn't worry."
The whole Asaka family stared oddly at the greenhead causing him to feel a bit uncomfortable. The basketball club must have it tough with a troublemaker such as Midorima. Ritsu thought that she knew all about his horoscope obsession, but it seemed that she actually underestimated it. Doesn't Midorima know what embarrassment or shame is?
"All right then. I'll leave it in your care when the time comes, Akashi-kun."
The redhead nodded.
"Akashi?" Shōhei reacted to the familiar name. He darted his gaze to the latter and studied him a few seconds before showing disappointment, "That guy is Akashi? Really? He's more ordinary than I expected. From what you told me, I imagined him to be a lot more eccentric or alien-like with strange facial traits and all, but no matter how you look at him, he's just one of those typical bishōnen you see on TV or in manga."
Akashi's eyebrow twitched, then his eyes darted to Ritsu and Midorima. They both felt a chill down their spine, although they were unsure if Akashi was irritated by Shōhei's rude manners and comments or by the fact that they had told the boy weird things about him.
"Nee-san, Midori-nii-san, have you been fooled by his pretty face? I can kind of guess why. All bishōnen have a mysterious aura around them because of a dark past or traumatic experiences; and thus their charm increases tenfold. But there's nothing strange about it at all. It's common knowledge that they are two-faced people or backstabbers and often turn out to be an antagonist. In All-star rangers, that's pretty much what happen—"
"Shōhei, watch your tongue!" His mother scolded him, "Also, it's rude to stare at people this way. Introduce yourself properly, would you?"
The small boy pouted thinking he didn't say anything rude at all. Yet, he reluctantly did as he was told.
"I'm Shōhei, Ritsu's brother. Nice to meet you," He introduced himself as he always had been taught, despite the frown on his face, "And you are?"
"Your sister's classmate ‒ Akashi Seijūrō."
Introductions made, Shōhei stared down at the redhead trying to intimidate him. If only he knew his opponent...Akashi has never lost a staring contest. His piercing red eyes could literally make people kneel before him.
"Akashi is no opponent for you, Shōhei," Midorima said matter-of-factly.
The chesnut-haired boy's cheeks tinged pink as everyone noticed his failed attempt. They could see how hard he was trying not to lose to Akashi. It was only a matter of seconds before his gaze was turned away.
"T-That's not it! I'm just assessing his strength, that's all! You said that bishōnen is a strong basketball player and your greatest rival..."
"And so, have I not met your expectation?"
Shōhei flinched at Akashi's voice. Ritsu recognized that tone of his – he used it when he had taught her a lesson because she underestimated his capacities from his looks. Seems like being called bishōnen had flipped his "Demon Lord" switch. Perhaps, her brother wasn't completely mistaken by saying bishōnen were good at hiding their true colors.
"...Even though you're Midori-nii-san's teammate and nee-san's friend, I trust first impressions and only believe what I see," Shōhei countered with a pout, not liking his condescending tone, "I-If you have a complaint, then you can always try changing my opinion of you! People who can't make others acknowledge them are nothing but weak."
"I see, your attitude isn't half-bad," Akashi noted, looking straight at the small boy, "Having said that, I do not tolerate insolence. I will have you owe me an apology by the end of the day."
"What?!" The boy exclaimed, casting a perplexed look at Midorima and his sister.
"You made yourself a powerful enemy, my son," The mother stated with an amused smile.
[The Sports festival will begin shortly. All students please gather at the center of the soccer field. I repeat...]
"Ah, we better go. Mom, Shōhei, I'll see you later," Ritsu said while hearing the announcement.
"Midori-nii-san, do your best! I'll be cheering for you!"
"What about me?" She asked as she didn't get a cheer from her own brother.
Shōhei sneaked a glance at Akashi and screwed up his face into a frown. Guess she won't be receiving any. He didn't want her class to win since Akashi was in there.
"I generally don't give encouragement to my enemies..." Her brother mumbled turning his gaze away shyly.
She cracked a smile. Despite his words, his attitude said it all.
"Ritsu," Her mother stepped towards her and brushed a stray lock of hair aside, "it's good to have fun with your friends but don't do anything reckless. Do you remember what I said about sports injuries?"
"That sports injuries are no more than consequences of reckless decisions."
"Your father and I are worried when you get caught up in the heat of the moment. You get hurt far too easily; it always has been like this ever since you were little. I know you want to give your all and win but a game is already lost the moment you lose yourself."
"I'll keep that in mind...," Ritsu assured, a little embarrassed. She didn't like to hear how irresponsible she could become at times.
"I hope you will," Her mother turned to the two boys, "Shintarō-kun, Seijūrō-kun, watch that you don't get hurt as well."
"We will, ma'am."
Ritsu and the two boys headed towards the soccer field. On their way, Ritsu felt the need to apologize to Akashi for her little brother's rudeness, seeing how things went bad on their first encounter. Shōhei really had no tact and was easily misunderstood because of that.
"I'm sorry about my brother's attitude, Akashi-kun. He's too blunt for his own good."
"It's fine," The redhead brushed it off, "You two are indeed brother and sister."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Akashi just smirked and Midorima agreed with his statement.
A short prologue to the long inter-class competition. The real thing will begin next chapter! Please, look forward to it! Will Oha-Asa horoscope's prediction come true? Will Midorima's kindness pay?
Until next time!
Zynis - In this arc, Akashi and Asaka's friendship level will definetely rise. That, I can assure you. Don't worry, I won't force anything between them. At this point, even I can't imagine them as a pair of lovers in truth, so their relationship will take as much time as it needs to develop properly (though I have until their second year - before Akashi's "change of personality"- to do so). Aka-chansama - The GoM playing soccer...I always wonder how they'd fare in other sports! hehe. It's true that it's hard to make Kise show up, at least purposefully. Which explains why I haven't made him appear or interact with Asaka. That said, it's the sports festival, which means any reasons's fine to...Ahem. And yes, I intend to keep Asaka independent, I won't make her fall in love blindly and have her thoughts filled with "Akashi-kun" night and day. I'll keep the level of romance as it already is for now. Annalise93 - I'm so glad to hear to you like the Asaka's character development, it truly encourages me. Indeed, the summary is very foreboding, you can already figure that there will not be a happy ending. Everyone will drift apart, just like in the orginal story. Isn't is sad? Oneworld111 - you're making me blush, but each one of your reviews makes me so happy as well. I'll do my best to improve the quality of this fic, I still have so many things to tell in this story! Also, I'll be sure to make the GoM a bit more nosy. It can be funny. When Akashi changes for the worst, his relationship with Asaka won't ever be the same. That's all I can disclose, though I'm kinda look forward to write on these changes between them.