I haven't updated in ages! But I'm still alive. To make up for my long absence, three chapters have been posted. I tell you, it's a miracle. Thank you for following, favouriting and taking the time to review this fic *wink*! Seeing that this story is still read and piques your interest, I just can't stop here and let you down. I hope you all enjoy it to the very end. One special thanks to my beta reader! Without their great work, all those chapters would be filled with mistakes and misspellings~
Just one thing, it seems some of you are still confused about the timeline (Aka-chansama's review) Sorry if I was unable to make it clear. At this point of the story, Kuroko is still in the third-string. If I'm not mistaken, there's three months between his fateful encounter with Akashi and his promotion to the first-string, so he won't be playing soccer at the sports festival. But I haven't forgotten him~
"Gooo, Akashi-kun!" Honda cheered for a certain red-haired teen, shouting through a paper megaphone. Along with her, hundreds of voices encouraged every participant running and playing on the field. Two hours have passed since the start of the competition, but they never stopped and kept warming the playground with joy and hope.
On the tracks, the competition continued with the Obstacle Relay, in which Akashi was one of the runners and was currently jumping the hurdles.
"Hop, hop, hop like a rabbit and aim for the moon!" The girl with braids continued, raising her voice for the chant to her classmate in order to not lose to other girls' euphoria. Ever since Akashi started racing, encouragements had been mostly overlapped by squeals and cries of joy, much to the poor boys whose ears were bleeding from all the fangirliness over Akashi.
"Kyah, Akashi-sama! Do your best!"
"Whatever he does, all eyes are on him." Yoshiwara commented, her chocolate eyes roving about the groups of girls going hysterical by the mere sight of the boy doing sports. "But Akashi-kun's reputation has really shot up ever since the play; it was already awesome but now...I have the impression that girls are being more and more opened about their crush for him. I hear them directly calling him «Akashi-sama» when before they only used that surname for their fantasies."
"Really?" Ritsu said before casting the same curious look as the class representative around the venue.
"Un, you don't know how many girls greet or come to him calling him «Akashi-sama», and no more «Akashi-kun». Him playing the prince charming at the school festival, and probably winning the Basketball Championship must have a lot to do with his fangirls' new attitude; I'd bet good money on it. That said, I'm not sure Akashi-kun is entirely comfortable with that, you should have seen the look on his face when they addressed him with «Akashi-sama»!" The class representative laughed as she remembered the memory. She then gave a curious glance to the ashblonde. "Don't you hear it too, when you're alone with him, Asaka-san?"
"No, I'm a bit surprised to hear that, in fact." Ritsu told her, earning a perplexed look from Yoshiwara, "I've only heard the girls call him that when they chat amongst themselves as they usually do, but never in front of him."
"Never? That's strange...Every time I'm with him, I hear the same tune since the school festival. And since you and Akashi-kun are friends, I thought..." The bespectacled girl mused, folding her arms.
As far as she was concerned, since the school festival, things had been rather quiet for her, and Akashi as well. Whenever they talk or make the way to their clubs or the school gate together, there was not even a fly to break their moments. They only got curious or admiring looks here and there, but after the school festival, Akashi seemed to have less girls hovering over him – at least, when she was with him. Then, the silliness of that thought occurred to her : since when were things this quiet around him - the Golden boy of Teikō?
Although his fangirls weren't as insistent as some of a certain blonde from another class and usually kept their distance gazing at their prince from afar, it wasn't rare to see them coming to have a little chat or to give him homemade biscuits from time to time. And yet, Ritsu hasn't caught them doing so these past three months.
Wasn't that a bit strange?
"Well...I've barely seen any girls approaching him recently."
"For real?" Yoshiwara exclaimed in a dejected tone, "They don't bother interrupting my conversations with him just to give love letters or ask him to have lunch. Honestly, what a bother. What kind of magic do you use to keep them away, Asaka-chan? Because I wish I'd stop hearing «Akashi-sama», that's getting under my skin..."
"Hehe, have you forgotten Asaka-chan's the Witch, Yoshi-chan?" Honda chimed into the conversation, a broad smile plastered on her face, "It's expected that they stay away from an evil creature like her if they don't want to taste her flames~ Considering the fact that she tried to beat the living daylights out of the Prince. Shaaa! Shooo!"
She slashed the air with her paper megaphone.
"Haa?!" Ritsu interjected in incredulity, shooting a glance at the dramatic girl. Her hazel eyes lit up as she met her gray-blue ones. But before she could, Yoshiwara burst out laughing.
"That may be one explanation! No need for magic if you inspire that much fear!"
Ritsu had no energy to speak up against claims like that, although she had wished for a little support from the class representative. She usually cut Honda's delusions short.
"Seems like Akashi-kun isn't the only one who's gained a reputation at the school festival! But to say that's the quiet and gentle Asaka-san we're talking about."
Honda couldn't stop nodding her head, agreeing with each of Yoshiwara's words, "You shone like a true star! You showed what you're really made of, Asaka-chan! Aah, I'm still hearing the violent sounds of your wand clashing with his sword!" She then squeezed her eyes, trying to hold herself back from squealing. "Your epic fight is etched into my heart and soul f-o-r-e-v-e-r~!"
Although, to be honest, Ritsu hardly believed that she would impress this kind of ferocious image with just her Witch performance to the point of instilling fear in people, she found it rather funny to even think about it. She had never been spoken of in such a way. Quiet, kind or delicate were generally the words that mostly came out when people described her. And she was perfectly fine with it; if she were to describe herself, she'd probably say the same. So, there was no way she'd be able to intimidate anyone.
"Come now, I doubt his fangirls are intimidated by me just because of my performance at the school festival." Ritsu brushed it off, "Also, if a group of them happens to gang up on me, I wouldn't stand a chance."
"Don't speak like some weak girl, my witch! Your true strength has been revealed at the play! I'm sure you'd rough many of them up before collapsing. You'd fight back with all your might!"
"Like a fury, you mean." She commented, imagining the bloody scene.
"Like a brave girl!" Honda rectified her instantly. "How else would you have left such a vibrant impression on me?"
"I'm with Honda-chan on this one," Yoshiwara affirmed, a warm smile tugging at her lips, "You don't usually stand out but you had a great presence on stage. I couldn't take my eyes off your fight. Even though you were hit hard, you were on the verge of collapsing; you stood tall till the end. Since then, I'm seeing you in a new light. Um, I've never thought badly of you to begin with, but I don't know, I want to see more of you."
Ritsu could read something other than respect in their eyes : admiration. Her lips parted, about to downplay it. She was usually the one to admire people, but not the one being looked up to. It was a strange feeling. Yet, her words remained silent and instead, her lips shaped into a smile. What was there more to say but accept it?
Even though a part of her may think that she didn't deserve their admiration, those feelings weren't born out of nowhere, and there was a reason for them to exist – which she finally recognized : She was talented. She couldn't keep denying her own strength while aiming to be strong; or else how was she supposed to grow? Her discussions with Akashi and Yagami sure made it clear for her.
So, rather than trying to draw people's attention away from her, she would make them turn her way. Wasn't that what it means to become strong?
"The air around you has changed, recently. Ah!" Yoshiwara inched closer, "Maybe, is it Akashi-kun's influen—"
"KYAAAAAAAH!"
The squeals got louder, making Ritsu and Yoshiwara turn their heads to the field. Akashi splendidly caught up with the frontrunner and took the lead of the race. The girls' excitement went off the roof, but Honda didn't lose to them and shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Gooooooooooo, Akashi!"
Reaching the very last meters, the red-haired teen jumped over a vault and made his way to Sudo who was waiting for his turn, shouting encouragements at him. Without losing the lead, Akashi passed the baton to his orange-haired teammate.
Sudo sprinted like lightning. Despite his good start, the cheers didn't follow. The moment Akashi had finished running, the girls' encouragements literally stopped, and now the venue sounded almost too quiet without them.
"Waaah...Poor Sudo." Yoshiwara said, noticing the lukewarm reactions. Most of the girls still had their eyes on Akashi, wiping the sweat on his face off with his shirt. "They don't care about him at all."
"Is he crying?" Ritsu squinted her eyes, incredulous. Tears were streaming down Sudo's face.
"The spotlight's not on him, even though he's going all out." The bespectacled girl watched her classmate crying and running, and let out a faint sigh, "Let's cheer for him, Asaka-chan, Hon—"
"Sudooooooo! Don't let the other runners catch up to you! Ruuunnn like the wind!" Honda was yelling through a paper megaphone, "Go, go, Sudooooo!"
Yoshiwara gawked at her before she followed suit with the same enthusiasm. No need to be asked twice, Ritsu also joined them. Their voices mingled with others, and yet, Sudo's tears suddenly stopped flowing. He pricked up his ears as if their encouragements reached him.
Happy and moved to receive some, Sudo cried one manly tear and bounced back. His morale boosted, his speed increased. In his momentum, he widened the distance between him and the other runners, not leaving a single chance for them to catch up.
Sudo was first to reach the wooden structure where a roll of bread was dangling from a string. Without stopping on his track, he jumped and snatched the piece of food with his mouth. He then dashed to get a netting containing dozens of small bean bags that he had to bring to his teammates, so they can start the last part of the event : the bean bag toss.
"Eeh, Sudo-kun has nothing to be ashamed of. He's doing pretty well." Ritsu said, impressed by the stunning performance of her classmate. He was fast. At the thought, the image of a fried pork cutlet sandwich suddenly flashed in her mind, which made her laugh inwardly. It seemed Akashi was right about Sudo.
"Sudo-kun has always done well in sports...when he's not goofing around." Yoshiwara followed up with a flat tone but a faint smile spread over her face, "His athletic skills have caught the eyes of some sports clubs like track and field or soccer. A few seniors have come several times to our class to scout him. But Sudo-kun rejected all their offers."
Now that the class rep mentioned it, Ritsu could occasionally see the boy talking with upperclassmen. To think they were asking him to join their club; Sudo was really something. But she wondered why he didn't give it a try. His performances weren't bad at all.
"He doesn't feel like it. They are too restrictive and the competitive atmosphere isn't for him; he wants to cherish his freedom and just have fun as much as possible, that's what he said."
"Sounds just like him!" Honda giggled.
"But well...even though I think it's a waste of his potential, I can somehow understand his choice. Sports clubs aren't a place you join with half-assed feelings. If you go there just to have fun, you choose the wrong place. He wouldn't have been in his element."
What Yoshiwara said reflected the reality of sports clubs. They required will and determination, and above all else, a lot of personal investment. It was a common scene to see a few members give up and quit just weeks or months later for being unable to keep up with the workload and the rhythm, especially in competitive clubs like Teikō's basketball club.
At the thought, the face of a downhearted Kuroko surfaced from her memories. Even he wanted to quit the club at some point, although his reasons were different from a simple lack of motivation and determination. On the contrary, perseverance wasn't a word unknown to Kuroko; he seemed like the type to work hard and steadily towards his dream. Her conversation with Akashi the other day told her that much. Kuroko will have spared no efforts to win his ticket for the basketball club's first-string.
She wondered how he was doing.
"Hey, Sudo-kun! What the hell are you doing? Aim properly! What happened to your fantabulous throws?!" Honda yelled at her orange-haired classmate. Most of his throws missed or hit the rim of the overhead basket. "Don't rush and take your time! You've got teammates you can trust!"
As if on cue, Akashi's bean bag collided with Sudo's into the air just above the basket. The impact slightly changed the trajectory of Sudo's bean bag and allowed it to fall into the net.
"Nice teamwork, Akashi-kun!"
Sudo blinked, then a grin spread over his face. He raised his thumb up at his red-haired classmate, appreciating the unexpected help.
"I don't think that was done on purpose...Akashi-kun looked just as surprised as Sudo-kun." Yoshiwara commented as she was readjusting her glasses, her eyes squinting at the two boys.
Coincidence or not, Sudo perked up after that, even though he didn't get any better. In contrast, Akashi was scoring most of the points for their class. His bean bags flew right into the basket as if they were attracted to it by a mysterious force.
"As expected of a basketball player. Akashi-kun doesn't miss at all. It's a piece of cake for him." The bespectacled girl gazed at him, "Looking at him throwing bean bags, it really strikes me that he's playing basketball. I've never seen him on the court...but I'm a little curious to know what has made him play it. Why basketball?"
Given Akashi's great athletic aptitudes, he could have gone for any sports and have fun. However, now that Yoshiwara mentioned it, his choice on basketball piqued her curiosity as well. Not because it was strange or she had something against basketball, but Ritsu wanted to know why he decided on a team sport.
It was no overstatement to say that Akashi could do everything on his own. He didn't need help to achieve his goals, which was his strength. So instead of a group activity, she pictured him well in an individual one where his talent would bloom and his brilliance would grab the attention of all.
And yet, he chose to play a team sport.
Sudo threw four bean bags into the basket in a row. His green eyes sparkling, he spun to Akashi to see if he's witnessed all of his greatness. Sudo then gave him a tap on his shoulder, seemingly happy to get praise from Akashi.
Ritsu couldn't help but smile. She was curious about the reason, nevertheless, wasn't the answer just as simple as the scene in front of her eyes? Team sports had their own unique charm to which Akashi might not be indifferent.
"I don't know exactly but it must be rather simple."
Yoshiwara chuckled, "I think so! When it comes to liking something, some reasons are surprisingly uncomplicated."
"Even for the mysterious Akashi-kun. Hehe!" Honda commented with humor. "Since we're on the topic, what about you Asaka-chan? What made you play volleyball?"
"You want to know?" Ritsu raised an eyebrow.
"I've always wanted to ask you too," Yoshiwara admitted, "But I didn't, thinking that you might dislike or be uncomfortable with those sorts of questions."
"No, not at all. I'm just surprised you're interested to know though." The ashblonde dismissed it with a soft laugh. "Um, to answer your question... I think I just love the concept of a team."
The class rep looked as she was expecting something a little more exciting, "You play volleyball because you like teamwork?"
"Do you find it strange?"
"Then, wouldn't any team sports have been good for you?"
"It would not." Ritsu replied straight away. It couldn't have been another sport for her. She valued teamwork because it was in volleyball that she had grasped the real meaning of a team. There was some magic in volleyball, a scenery that she couldn't forget.
"You know when I started to learn it, I was rather clumsy with a volleyball. I couldn't do anything well and the other members often had to assist me. It took me a while to play it correctly. "
She failed many times before she could handle the volleyball as she was now. The ball literally flew everywhere but in the right direction, she sometimes hit herself with it due to a bad control, and so on and so forth. Somehow, her debut made her remember Maeda Hanako with whom she had been teamed up for an evaluation. In the match, the girl didn't know what to do with the ball, and Ritsu had experienced the same distress. She knew the frustration of not being good and helpful.
"But it was at that time that I came to really love volleyball." Ritsu declared, cherishing that memory.
One day, she had to stay late at the club waiting for her mother to come fetch her, and while waiting, she watched the senior members practicing for a local game with another club, their practice usually coming right after the juniors'. They must have thought that she was bored because one of them asked if she wanted to join them in a small practice match. She remembered hesitating since she hadn't been playing volleyball for long, but in the end, she had found herself in front of a tall net almost twice her size along with the man who had called her out, and another member.
Against adults and a huge net, she wasn't much of help. She wondered why they even asked her to play with them. Her frustration must have shown on her face, since the man told her not to give up. If the sight in front of her was too intimidating, then first she had to look around her.
After giving his piece of advice, the man had appointed her to be the setter of their team. And that's where she saw all the beauty of volleyball.
"The determined way we dig to save the ball from touching the ground, the unwavering calls for a toss, the ball moving from one hand to another in perfect coordination, the setter's toss that brings the opportunity for attacks to the players..."
The images were carved in her memories. In that match, she had kept doing mistakes and ruined most of their opportunities of winning, but this hadn't burdened her as much as at the start. All because she had had teammates to support her. And she had had real fun.
"I really love that about volleyball."
A warm smile touched Yoshiwara and Honda's lips.
"The volleyball team is lucky to have you. A team needs players who can fully trust in others. I think that's what's most important to keep a team united."
Ritsu couldn't agree more with her, and was happy to hear this from someone uninvolved with sports. It confirmed to her that her attitude towards volleyball wasn't wrong, but Kazehaya's words lingered. She didn't like the ominous impression it left. What did she mean by "too soft-hearted"?
[...irst place : class 1-A. With a score of twenty-third bean bags. Second place : classe 1-C. With a score of nineteen bean bags. Third place...]
"We got first place!" Honda and Yoshiwara rejoiced at the announcement, clasping their hands together.
"Of course we're first place!" Sudo boasted, joining the group of girls. "I completely left the other runners in the dust! I'm so awesome! It's all thanks to M-E!"
He took the cool-guy pose, sparkles all around him.
"And Akashi-kun."
The name of the popular prince made him grimace. With a dejected expression, he mumbled, "Your middle name is definitely «killjoy», Yoshiwara-chan." He then cried out lout, "Yoshiwara Killjoy Megumi!"
Honda was thrown into a fit of laughter. Ritsu stifled it as much as she could, feeling a glare boring into them.
"Yes, yes," The girl brushed it off with a vague movement of the hand. "By the way, where is Akashi-kun?"
Now that Yoshiwara pointed it out... Akashi should have come back with Sudo since he has been staying with Ritsu's group. Her gray-blue eyed gaze scanned the soccer field where some executive members were scrambling to prepare the next event, then around her their class, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Ichinose was suddenly feeling dizzy after the race, so Akashi went with her to the drinking fountain. Just in case, he said. Well, she did look pale."
"Huuum~ Doesn't it sound a bit like a trap?" Honda said amusedly, "Now they are alone, far from anyone~ Ichinose-chan might have tricked our prodigious little prince to confess her burning love for him."
"Why choose such a timing?" Ritsu quirked an eyebrow.
Yoshiwara rolled her eyes. "Please don't ask that question, Asaka-chan. You're much better than that."
"«The truth is, I've always liked you, Akashi-kun! When I saw you making your speech at the school opening ceremony, I knew I'd be yours! So please go out with me!» Honda sprang up to Sudo. Only a few centimeters away from his face, she folded her hands and fluttered her eyelashes to look cute while adding, "...Pretty please?"
Sudo blushed and gawked at her before he yelped out, "...Eh? EEEH?! For real?! Why not me?! I have to go—"
"You stay here, Casanova!" Yoshiwara ordered as she forced the boy to sit down, "And Honda-chan, stop teasing him! Ichinose is not that kind of girl!"
"My bad, my bad~ I couldn't help it. He always overreacts when it comes to girls."
"I want a girl confessing to me too...!"
The class rep bit back a comment and sighed heavily. At least, she had managed to make him sit.
"Instead of concerning yourself with that," She reached for the fresh bottle of water next to her and gave it to him. "Here, drink this while you can. The next event will start soon."
Sudo stared at her, then he grabbed and uncapped the bottle. Refreshed, he stretched his sore back and limbs until they cracked.
"Honestly, will you be okay? You've been going at it since this morning and now you have the dodgeball tournament and the three-legged assault course coming just after. You won't be able to rest between them."
"I'm totally fine! I only participate in four events this afternoon. Besides, I'll get plenty of rest during lunch break! No worries!" Sudo assured with a confident grin and moved his left arm in circles to support his words.
[All participants for the dodgeball tournament are requested to come to get their bibs on the field. I repeat...]
"They're calling for me!" Sudo downed the water from the bottle and stood up, slapping his face with both hands. "Let's go— Hey, you came back pretty quick!"
As he spun around, he came face to face with Akashi.
"Good luck, Sudo." He said to him. At the encouragement, Sudo returned his smile.
"Ah! With my awesomeness, there is no need for luck! Quick as lightning and agile as a monkey, no balls will touch a single hair on my head. I only allow the soft caresses of a girl on my beautiful and perfect body! By the end of the day, my brilliance will blind you, Akashi! Just you watch!" He declared, his chest puffed out.
And he left for the battle.
"Welcome back, Akashi-kun." Ritsu greeted him. Akashi retook the seat he had left empty for the relay next to her.
"How is Ichinose? We heard from Sudo-kun that she was feeling unwell." Yoshiwara asked him as she didn't see said girl coming back with him.
"I took her to the nurse station. She was lightheaded from anaemia."
"«Yes, I had no other choice. She suddenly collapsed in my arms! With nobody around to help me saving this sleeping beauty, I mustered all of my manly strength. I carried her bridal style and I ran to the nurse station...!» Honda romanticized the situation, using a deep voice. She wriggled her brows and sing-songed, "In bridal style~!"
Akashi stared at her blankly. "...No."
The girl broke into a fit of laughter. "Well, those sorts of things have a high chance to happen to you one day! You're just like the perfect protagonist of a shōjo manga."
"You're reading manga?" Yoshiwara looked interested (in that point).
"I read everything! Manga are wonderful books too, you know! Right, Akashi-kun?"
"I suppose."
"Hehe, I knew you'd say that! Tomorrow, I'll bring you my own shōjo recommendations! Love will knock at your heart!" She winked at him, already making a list of the manga she'd bring.
Listening to their conversation, Ritsu took her hat off to Honda for making Akashi step into the entertaining world of manga, let alone shōjo. The only books she has seen him read were classic and contemporary literature.
"You, reading shōjo manga?"
"It's worth giving it a try."
Ritsu laughed. "You won't regret it."
Her gray-blue eyes turned on the field and observed the participantsput their colorful bibs on. Amongst them, a tanned bluehead and a tall greenhead stood out like sore thumbs.
"Look, Aomine-kun and Midorima-kun are participating as well."
Aomine yawned as he was waiting for the event to start. He wanted it to end quickly. He'd have been fine with just watching but no – a certain pink-haired girl who happened to be his childhood friend had to decide otherwise, saying that he was too lazy about everything but basketball. She should mind her own business... He had willingly participated in two events this morning and had the soccer game this afternoon, wasn't it enough?
As a big yawn escaped him, Midorima shoved a red bib into his face.
"Oi!"
"Put it on."
And of course, Momoi had had to put Midorima on this event too. With the stupid reasoning of them not getting along well recently. True, they got into fights more often than before for having different opinions on their plays – although he couldn't beat Murasakibara at getting on Midorima's nerves – but they got along just fine! They didn't need to be best friends. What he grasped on the court already told him what he needed to know about him. Though he did admit that Midorima was a pain in the neck, which explained why he didn't want to bother with him more than necessary.
'Satsuki and her bright ideas...' He mouthed.
As he slipped on the bib, his elbow hit somebody.
"Ah, sorry—" His expression brightened when he recognized the familiar face of his friend, "Tetsu!"
"Aomine-kun?"
Seeing the teal-haired teen lightened up his mood.
"What? Did you get forced into playing dodgeball too?"
Kuroko tilted his head. "Sort of. During the events distribution, my class only realised at the end that I wasn't in any, so they put me anywhere they could."
"Your class forgot…about you?" Midorima furrowed his brows.
"They did."
The greenhead silently continued to stare at him, finding it hard to believe. Aomine, on the other hand, has gotten used to these sorts of far-fetched stories from Kuroko when they practiced together, and believed them to be true.
Kuroko barely had presence; he must be one of those kids who always get forgotten on a school field trip. And well, he also did remember praying to Buddha and other deities he'd only seen in picture books and movies, thinking he was a ghost at their first encounter. Talk about low presence!
Nevertheless, he kinda envied that super skill of his. At least, he'd have peace and could take a nap whenever he wanted.
"It sucks, huh. You could have taken it easy the whole day!"
It put a smile on Kuroko's flat expression.
"Hey, Kuroko-kun! Over here!"
A girl, certainly his classmate as she was wearing the same yellow bib as him, was energetically waving at him.
"I have to go. See you later."
"Hey, Tetsu! Let's meet on the field!"
Aomine showed him his fist. Kuroko raised his blue eyes before his fist bumped his.
"Yes."
Watching Kuroko make his way through the crowd, Midorima muttered the boy's name in contemplation.
"I still don't understand what's in him that piqued Akashi's interest."
"You talking about the deal he made with Tetsu the other day?"
The deal was that Akashi'd talk Kuroko's promotion to the first-string over with the coaches at the condition he proves to be worthy of the opportunity he'd given him. When Kuroko told him about it, he thought that Akashi had promised him the moon. It wasn't that Aomine didn't believe in his friend's capacity to make it into the first-string, however, whoever heard this would find this too good to be true. And as a matter of fact, even Kuroko didn't know what to think about this golden opportunity. It sure must have confused him, he was on the verge of quitting basketball since he wouldn't ever make it on the team, and the very same day he shared his decision with him, he suddenly got this one of a lifetime chance.
But Aomine was glad about Kuroko bouncing back thanks to this proposition. Had he not gotten it, he'd have probably quit basketball the next day, much to his dismay. Kuroko wanted to take this chance. And well, he had nothing to lose believing in Akashi's words.
Though Aomine had to admit that Akashi's initiative still surprised him. He didn't have the slightest clue what the vice-captain expected from him, but one thing he was absolutely sure about: Kuroko had potential.
"I can't see in what way he may contribute to our team. I'm aware of Akashi's strong will to improve our play but I doubt this Kuroko guy is the one we need."
Although he'd like to shut Midorima up by telling him how awesome his practice partner was, he wouldn't believe it until he saw Kuroko play with his own eyes. And maybe you really did have to see for yourself.
The way Kuroko observed one's movements was peculiar. Very. Aomine couldn't tell what exactly impressed him about it, but in their one-on-ones, Kuroko managed to steal the ball from him several times after catching him off guard and would have scored if it weren't for his poor basketball skills.
Kuroko always did things you'd expect last.
"Tetsu might surprise you, Midorima. He always does. He'll make it into the first-string with a bang!"
Midorima left it at that, having yet to be convinced. However, Aomine had this gut feeling about Kuroko. Perhaps Akashi had it too.
[The dodgeball tournament will begin in five minutes. All participants please move to your designed areas.]
With precision, he throws. With agility, he avoids. With strength, he catches the ball. Aomine was unstoppable, the balls showered over him but he evaded them with disconcerting ease. And thus he lead his team to the final match along with Midorima whose accuracy was verging on the hundred percent. He didn't throw a lot but he always hit.
Under those conditions, their victory was assured...
Until a ball bolted straight at him. Aomine gasped in surprise. The ball passed him by a hair's breadth; without his excellent reflexes, he would have been eliminated. Though he couldn't say the same for one of his teammates behind him.
"Ah? Where did that come from?!"
Aomine scanned the opposite side, all the ten players, in search of an answer. They played with three balls, and all of them had been in their opponents' hands before that surprise attack. So he should have seen it coming...He must have let his guard down.
The exchange of balls took up again. When, on his peripheral vision, Aomine saw Midorima twist his body to avoid a cannonball shot almost too late.
This time, there was no victim, but that second surprise attack left an impact on the team. Confusion rose in their ranks. Everyone were whispering and looking for the mysterious shooter, and tried so hard to spot him that they've forgotten to look out for the other players.
"Crap! I was hit!"
That didn't look good. At this rate, they'd be annihilated before they could fight back.
Aomine cursed under his breath.
Where and who the hell are they?
"Haa! That freaking sniper! That's him! He strikes again! You see?" Sudo exclaimed, pointing his finger at the group opposing Aomine and Midorima's class. "It's because of him we all got slaughtered!"
Sudo was still bitter over their elimination in the first round of the tournament. According to him, there had been someone moving in the shadows, randomly throwing the balls at them which made it impossible to predict from where or when they'd shoot.
"They're using the same strategy again! They confused us and used it against us! We tried to spot him but we got eliminated before we could. I got the impression there was an eleventh member in their team!"
Indeed, even having a better and wider view of the match as a spectator, Ritsu couldn't catch a single glimpse of this mysterious sniper. Every time the ball just kept coming out of nowhere. Well, dodgeball was a fast game so it was natural not to be able to register every action happening on the field, but her gray-blue eyed gaze has been fixed on the group facing the two colorful heads for a while in hope to see they face. And yet they continued to slip from her .
Somehow, it was like magic was at work. As if the ball was thrown by invisible hands, which was preposterous. Nevertheless, this someone had to be extremely skilful to give that impression.
"So long as there is a way to distract people's attention, you won't be able to see him."
Intrigued by his enigmatic words, Ritsu shifted her attention on Akashi, "Him?"
Akashi lit up expectantly.
"Kuroko Tetsuya."
"Gyaaah!" Another surprise ball hit one of his classmates. Aomine swept the opposite group trying to spot the slightest hint of this mysterious shooter, but to no avail. Only Midorima and he remained in their group against five.
A bead of sweat ran down his cheek.
"Midorima, see anything?"
"You should rather ask what I cannot see." His green-haired teammate snarled, also scanning the five faces in front of him. "We reduced their numbers by half but we have yet to catch a single glimpse of the shooter or even see him in action. It's like there's a sixth person with them. What a silly impression..."
Midorima had a point. At this point, it was very strange not to have caught that guy in action. Seriously, when someone is going to throw a ball at you, you can't miss him, especially when they're just in front of you...
A sixth person, huh. There was no way, but the idea was thrilling.
Aomine picked up a ball, a grin spreading over his face.
"Guess we just have to see it for ourselves!" He declared, grabbing the ball with his two hands before going into a throwing motion.
Midorima agreed in silence and followed suit, locking his next target.
The balls flew to their targets, but only Midorima's was successful. Aomine missed and the ball was bouncing on the ground, waiting to be picked up. Then his blue eyes widened at the sight of the small silhouette of his teal-haired friend.
"Tetsu?"
Aomine blinked in disbelief finally seeing clear as day as his friend picked up the ball he'd thrown. Had he always been there?
The ball in his hands, Kuroko joined his four teammates and blended in like he had always been with them.
Hold on a sec! Aomine re-counted the heads of his opponents. There were five in total, which was silly since one had just been eliminated, there should remain four of them. But that wasn't including Kuroko...
It suddenly clicked. That impression of a sixth person Midorima had, those surprise balls...It was Kuroko's doing! They've completely forgotten his presence in the game. Was that even possible? Kuroko may have a very low presence, but to that extent...?
His eyes were glued on Kuroko's movements, making sure that he'd not lose sight of him. The latter was standing at the left end of the group, looking at his opponents with his usual blank expression. When he slightly lifted his right arm, Aomine adjusted his stance, readying himself to avoid the ball he'd throw.
"Aomine, move!"
Shit! His blue-eyed gaze immediately shifted to a ball coming from the opposite direction of where Kuroko was. He focused too much on him that he didn't pay attention to the rest.
It was too late to avoid with a simple side step. He leaned back and fell back on his hands.
Seeing the ball fly over him made him heave a sigh of relief, not for long though. He was an easy prey in that stupid position. He tried to get up quickly but someone was one step ahead of him...
"Look out!"
On instinct, Aomine rolled to the side and shot a sharp look at the opposing team. "Where did it come from?"
"There!" The shooting guard pointed the last spot Kuroko had been at. He wasn't there.
Aomine sharpened his focus on the group and looked for the boy. Nothing. Kuroko has simply disappeared from his sight. He knew his small friend was out there, he didn't dream it.
"Hey, Midorima, how many do you count?"
The bespectacled teen looked at him suspiciously. "Did you hit your head or what?"
"Just answer the damn question!"
His tone made his brow twitch.
"Four."
So even Midorima hasn't noticed Kuroko yet.
"Why do you ask?"
"You'll see."
Midorima wouldn't have believed him if he'd told him about the existence of a fifth person, so Aomine chose not to say a word about Kuroko. Besides, the shooting guard seemed to have a bad impression of the latter. He wouldn't believe that a small and frail guy like Kuroko would be the one behind those surprise attacks that almost wiped out their team.
However, Aomine believed in his friend's potential and strength. Kuroko was a force to be reckoned with. And by the end of this match, it'll be known.
A thrilled smile tugged at his lips.
Show me what you got, Tetsu!
In a flash, only two remained in the opposite team. Aomine wiped the sweat on his face with his T-shirt and eyed the last wall standing between Kuroko and him. Catching a glimpse of the teal-haired boy again, his grip on the ball tightened. Strangely, ever since he'd noticed Kuroko's presence, he sometimes was able to spot him just for a few seconds, but he would always vanish into thin air in the blink of an eye.
It was impossible to target him...
But as if that would stop him.
Aomine threw the ball with great accuracy and hit his target. As the last obstacle was removed, there he was looking blankly at him.
"Kuroko Tetsuya..." He heard Midorima whisper the name in disbelief.