Sunrays
Kise Ryōta finds himself casually leaning against the cobblestone pillar that makes up just a portion of the rust red entrance of his new residence for the coming three years.
He has been waiting for a generous half-hour, scanning the myriad of different students making their first steps into high-school, bored.
Phone flickering in his hand, he lazily swipes and presses, having brought up his inbox more times than he's been able to count. His friend should've been here by now..
Head tilting itself backwards, hitting the harsh surface of his designated spot, he can't help but wonder just how he'd gotten here.
The presence of a model on campus grounds hasn't gone unnoticed by the majortiy of the female populous, keen eyes thrown his way that has scarily enough gotten almost second nature to ignore.
Few brave ones that had dared approach him had been turned away politely, yet in his usual charming way. It's almost annoying with how everytime he lets his eyes drift away, in search of that particular someone, many forcibly try to meet his.
There's good money in working as a model, he appreciates the flexibility it provides, Kise Ryōta merely doubts just how worth it it is during times like this.
Snickering to himself, silently, he dismisses his own thoughts. Completely uncool.
He lets his gaze wander off again, in search of the pale-blue locks that had become an even more familiar sight these past weeks.
Weeks.
It had been weeks since he had proposed this stupid idea to Kurokocchi.
Kise was quite certain the Phantom Sixth Man had been wishing to reject his idea at first, not wanting a repeat performance of their third year in middle-school.
He had tried to convince him, desperately even. For the first week he didn't have much hope, he'd been 'forgiven' as best as his mentor could, but it did nothing to change his behaviour.
Kise knew that, he knew that his behaviour was far from how they had started out. Doubt had been present, unsure if the 'weak'-looking Kurokocchi could even as much as shoot.
Now it was reversed.
Could he even shoot without sneering down at his opponents or nonchalantly stare them down after a dunk?
Sick, that's what he felt. It had become a habit, looking down on your opponents and Kise Ryōta was not sure himself if he could get better.
In the end it had been his mentor whom had come through to him yet again, as calm and collected as always.
And incredibly enough, he'd manage to make Kurokocchi pick up a basketball during their break.
His toes push away from the asphalt, launching him up in the familiar pose and rythm he had come to expect out of his most-cherished sport.
Fingers curling around the hoop momentarily, swish of the street-court's net made audible as the basketball is forced through.
Kise Ryōta releases his grip, worn-out sneakers meeting solid ground yet again with an audible 'twang' of the rim. He cocks his brow momentarily as the rim shifts ever so slightly, unstable from his unexpected weight.
It corrects itself and he lets a cool breath escape his lips, tugging his shirt up to wipe off excess sweat, moving over to collect the ball yet again. His eyes drifting off to where his mentor had taken his seat, outside of the court.
Benched, in a sense. His love for the sport they had both come to know eachother from lost, even if it's just momentarily. Then again, the Copy-Cat's not even sure about that part.
He recognizes the familiar haunt of his friend's eyes if he so much as looks up at him playing, it's brief, but not enough to be hidden.
It's enough for him to unnecessarily think things through.
How many times had this look passed their Phantom Sixth Man's eyes as he sat on and watched them crush dozens, maybe even more than a hundred different teams?
Kise shudders, and it's not because of the cool air this evening.
"Hey, Kurokocchi?" He can't stop himself.
The Shadow looks up from his phone, having apparently been engrossed in what he now was reading. It almost brings a quick and easy smile to his lips as the pale boy looks at him like a question mark.
It's enough, and he bounces the ball twice before passing it over to his friend.
Kurokocchi fumbles briefly with it, not having quite expected it.
Kise doesn't pay attention to how his mind reminds him of how long it must've been for his mentor to recieve a genuine pass.
Firmly securing the ball in his grip, Kurokocchi's features adorns a look of puzzlement, pale-blue eyes shifting from him to the ball. As if unsure.
"Come on up here! You're on defense, Kurokocchi!" It's an inviting grin he sends the Phantom Sixth Man's way, encouraging the boy with an exuberant wave.
Boy in question twisting and turning the ball around in his grip, and Kise doesn't fail to notice just how his mentor looks at him over it. It's not the same as the day of the finals, but it's not quite so different.
With unrestrained enthusiasm the blonde Copy-Cat tries again;
"It's getting cold standing still, y'know!" He whines, and it feels just like old times.
A fleeting smile graces his mentor's lips, as if recognizing the nostalgia, starts removing his long-sleeved shirt he had worn atop his t-shirt.
Steady rythm of the ball's bounce fill both of their ears, before the Phantom Sixth Man passes the ball over, taking up his position.
"One-on-one?" His mentor inquires, some of the initial hesitance already gone.
Kise Ryōta laughs genuinely, bobbing his head up and down after. "I won't hold back!"
And he doesn't.
Kurokocchi looks to be on edge for once, focusing, but in the end it's not enough to stop him. Kise drives past his right with ease, the smaller-framed boy not being able to stop him even for a brief second.
Toes pushing off the asphalt yet again, the familiar 'twang' of the rim, the expected swish of the net comes to him effortlessly. With the basketball bouncing off as it hits the ground, silence reigns over the street-court.
Retrieving the ball as if it had merely been another practice, Kise stops short as he's about to jog back to start anew.
Head hung low, the Phantom Sixth Man remains where was, back turned to the Miracle whom he couldn't defend against. Hands at his side, Kurokocchi doesn't speak.
In the eerie quiet of the street-court, Kise Ryōta hears what resembles rain, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out where it comes from.
As he walks up to his friend, he doesn't make a comment or snide remark.
The Copy-Cat grabs his mentor's arm and holds it up, the pale-boy staring back at him with the same haunting quality he has come to despise.
Ball bouncing once, twice, as he drops it, before taking his mentor's other arm in his grip. Kise speaks up.
"Try holding your arms like this if you're playing defense, Kurokocchi." It's not a reprimand, it's encouragment.
And Kurokocchi stops, looking up at him through what must be blurry tears, nodding slowly as he wipes at his eyes with his arm.
"Okay." It's enough for now.
Kise brings up his t-shirt to wipe away at the excess sweat, reaching down to retrieve the basketball, he readies himself again.
This time, he barely makes it past, and it's a Kurokocchi who's smiling in his own subtle way that awaits him as he turns around.
"Kurokocchi!" He calls out.
Spotting the familiar pale-blue locks, Kise covers the short distance with a few steps of his long legs. He ruffles the short boy's hair with a big grin on his face, affectionate.
A swat to his hand comes expectedly, removing his unruly digits from his mentor's locks. "That's annoying, Kise-kun."
"I haven't seen you in a week though!" The blonde retaliates harmlessly, readjusting the strap of his bag.
He's rewarded with a weak smile, "You arrived early." It's more of a statement than a question.
Kise Ryōta waves it off, "I couldn't sleep, y'know!" he admits, gaze fleetingly disappearing from his mentor to where the student's are gathering up. Booths set up to welcome the newcomers.
"Think the basketball club has set up one..?" He wonders aloud, the sheer number of clubs is overwhelming. Eyes settling on his mentor yet again, awaiting an answer of sorts.
The Phantom Sixth Man nods once, offering up his guide book for the both of them to see. "Furthest back." A slender finger points at the corner of the page they're on.
Kise sighs heavily, readjusting the strap of his bag yet again as he looks out over the sea of students.
"We should apply before classes start." Kurokocchi suggests, and he nods along with it. Draping his arm over his shorter mentor's shoulders, Kise pushes them into the chaos of clubs awaiting them.
"..Think they have a modeling club?"
"Only if they're vain enough."
"So mean!" He whines, and it feels just like old times.
"Welcome, welcome!" They're greeted with as the pair stops at the basketball club's booth.
A girl, short-framed and short-haired, beams brightly up at them. She gestures with her free hand to the one chair present, "Take a seat, I'm sure you're tired of walking around." Subtly pushing the application form forward.
The boy, presumably Seirin's captain slides over one cup of water as curtesy - remaining silent however. "I'm sure you know, but our school just formed last year."
Kise Ryōta does as told, faintly amused, nodding along politely as he takes his seat.
"We only have second years to compete with, so I'm sure someone of your build would be great to have with us."
"Eh? I'm not too tall, y'know." He comments, charming smile adorning his lips as he thanks Seirin's captain for the offered pen. Golden eyes scanning over the brief application he'd have to sign.
"Taller than most." The bespectacled teenager pipes up, voice gruff, sizing him up. A sharp elbow to his side shuts him up with an 'oompf' however.
"So, where did you go to middle-school? We've had a wide variety this year amongst the few so far." Bright-eyed and innocent, the presumed manager comments.
Kise Ryōta laughs, "We're from Teiko Junior High."
The crack of a plastic cup, crushed. "Teiko?!"
Crumpling of yet another application form. "We?!"
"Hello." The Phantom Sixth Man offers, having stood next to his friend this entire time.
"Ooph..!" The Captain recoils, eyes wide with surprise and fear. Choking on his saliva, he coughs up a storm. Violently banging his chest as if to release the unexpected lock of his lungs. It works like a charm.
A shriek accompanies the chaotic wails of a choking man, their presumed manager pelting the poor pale boy with the crumpled paper. The Shadow takes it in stride, blinking slowly as it connects with his forehead.
And Kise Ryōta laughs harder, tears forming in the corner of his eyes from just how absurb the situation is.
"Oi..!" Their future captain, still recovering, barks out at the laughing blonde.
He waves it off, wiping at his eyes with a free hand. "Sorry, sorry! I just didn't expect it."
Coughing once, trying to regain an ounce of dignity, the girl speaks up. "Apologies, we-.. urhm, hadn't expected that either, you see..!" She attempts to smile briefly at them, but it's very visible just how curious the girl really is.
"This here, is Hyūga Junpei, captain and shooting-guard for Seirin High." She announces, gesturing to the now fully recovered teenager who nods in confirmation. "And I'm Aida Riko, coach of the basketball club."
"Really?!" Kise wails out. The latter coming as a surprise.
They nod in unison. Even Kurokocchi.
He's questioning his mentor's sanity already.
Kise Ryōta's unsure if he should politely remind their 'Coach' that she's staring , mouth wide-open, as he's half-naked along with nine different men.
He's not quite sure if he's been in a weirder situation, this might just top any list he might've had. Thankfully, it's their captain whom breaks their Coach's trance.
"Coach! What are you staring at?" Said girl shakes her head violently, clearing it.
"Sorry! Um..." Trailing off, the Copy-Cat can only guess what her eyes are looking for. He see's how she twists and turns as if she has forgotten something.
She has, the blonde's just too polite to speak for his mentor. Idly over-hearing Kurokocchi's sneakers as he moves next to him subtly, he can't help but adorn a silly half-grin.
"You've looked at all of them." Hyūga interjects, scanning over their new recruits.
"Excuse me." The Phantom Sixth Man politely inquires, calm and collected as always, hand raised as if to make himself more visible to the common eye. It works, mainly because he appears barely a few inches from the Coach's face, and a shriek similar to the one earlier today fills the gymnasium. They all wince in unison.
"Eeeh..?!" Aida Riko stumbles backwards for a moment, completely caught off-guard. Gravity seems to favor her this evening, not losing her balance as she catches herself just in time. His mentor's features doesn't even falter at the scene before him, it's unnerving.
"Sorry." The pale boy offers up, as mono-tone as ever. Remaining where he stands.
Kise almost cracks up right then and there for the second time today.
"Oi! Atleast sound like you're sorry, Kuroko!" Their captain chastises the smaller teen already, atleast Hyūga Junpei allows a small smile as he does.
"Hey! What are you smiling about, Junpei?!"
'Maybe it won't be so bad..' Kise Ryōta finds himself admitting.
Testing the waters, don't be sharks now.
In-comparison to the last chapter, I had six months of adjusting that one, I'm curious as to how it holds up.
Thank you for the kind response.