I'm back with a new update, guys! Thanks for all the favorites, follows and reviews! They make me so happy. I'm also especially glad to hear that the story feels better now. That's what I was working on. Ok, on to the next chapter!
It felt cold. It felt very cold. Kirimi was shivering. She opened her eyes and found herself in a blank, dark place. There was nothing to be seen except for an orange ball, a basketball on the ground, a few feet away.
"S-Shizuo?" she said, peering around.
She could only hear her own echo. Suddenly, she felt a strong cold wind pass by which made her shiver again. Kirimi blinked. When she opened her eyes, she saw her parents., who seemed to have appeared out of thin air.
"Basketball," said her mother. "Is that what you want to do, Kirimi?"
She didn't feel cold anymore. She felt strong and stood her ground.
"Yes, okaa-sama," answered Kirimi. "I want to play basketball with Tetsuya-kun. And I want to meet Shizuo again, somehow, someday, through basketball,"
Her father was staring at her from the background.
"Very well," said her mother. "But make sure you don't over exert yourself,"
"She won't," said a soft but firm voice.
Kirimi turned around. Her eyes widened.
"Tetsuya-kun!" she exclaimed.
Another figure appeared, this time with orange brown hair.
"Shizuo!"
Shizuo smiled at her.
"Go for it, Kirimi! You can do it! Make me, your basketball teacher proud!"
The blank space was turning light now. It wasn't dark anymore.
"Yes, I will, watch me, Shizuo!" said Kirimi as she punched her hand into the air.
"YES!" exclaimed Kirimi, punching her hand up again.
"Ojou-sama, I'm delighted that you're very eager to have your breakfast, but you shouldn't yell so loudly the minute you wake up,"
H-Huh?
Kirimi opened her eye, this time for real. She was in bed, in her pajamas. Birds were chirping and the sunlight was making its way to her bed through her window. Kirimi rubbed her eyes. She looked at the alarm clock in her bedstead. It was 6.30 AM. So all that had been a dream?
"Ojou-sama?" inquired the voice again, which belonged to one of the maids in Kirimi's house. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm completely fine, thank you!" said Kirimi, fully awake now.
Fully awake now, she hurriedly rushed out of her bed and grabbed the towel from the maid and rushed to the bathroom. She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror and took a deep breath and smiled. That's right, today was the start of a brand new life for her.
She remembered yesterday. She had met Tetsuya-kun who changed her life. She had confronted her parents, she stopped pretending to hate basketball, and her parents were actually allowing her to be around basketball? That had not been a dream, right? No, that was reality. But…but what if they changed their minds?
After grooming herself and putting on some clothes, Kirimi went down the stairs to meet her parents. Her father and mother were having breakfast, both sharing the newspaper.
"Good morning, okaa-sama, otou-sama," said Kirimi.
They looked up.
"Ah, good morning, Kirimi. Take a seat. The pancakes are getting a bit cold," said her father.
Kirimi gulped slightly. A maid bustled by, bringing more pancakes for Kirimi.
"Remember that today you have to review four lessons in your new Japanese History book. Remember what I told you. If you can't keep up with your studies, I won't let you near your precious basketball," said her mother, her eyes back on the paper.
Kirimi blinked. This confirmed it, what had happened yesterday hadn't been a dream! She really was allowed to have basketball in her life now…though she couldn't really play it.
"Kirimi. Your answer?" asked her father.
Kirimi looked at him determinedly.
"Yes, okaa-sama, otou-sama. I understand. Thank you very much for allowing me to be around basketball and forgive me for my rude behavior yesterday. I will do my best to live up to your expectations!" she said.
Her father nodded.
"Good," said her mother. "Now do you have your breakfast. You have to start studying in half an hour,"
Kirimi hadn't memorized her lessons this fast in a long time. It had become so easy all of a sudden. Of course, she was used to studying a lot everyday but this time she was even faster than before. Her tutor had looked doubtful when she had gone to him and said that she had understood all four chapters by 2.30 pm that day. But she had. She had memorized it all. So, by 3.15pm, after her tutor had gone home after one more quick review, she found herself completely free. She was a bit nervous but more than that she was excited. She still couldn't believe that her parents had given her permission! Even her father, who had seemed quite reluctant yesterday, was nodding in approval today.
All because she had meet that boy…Kuroko Tetsuya-kun. She wondered if they would get along. He seemed like a really nice boy. He was definitely quieter that Shizuo but he stuck strongly to what he felt, especially about basketball. She hoped that she wouldn't bore him today. She hoped that instead, somehow, she would be useful to him. He had actually consented to meet her everyday and let her watch him play basketball!
Kirimi looked at the clock, it was 3.30pm. It was time to leave for the basketball park on Usagi Road. Dressed in a long light colored top and with some shorts that came down till her mid thigh, Kirimi stepped out of the door of her house and went outside. Her parents had already left for work long before she had. She had to be home by 8.30pm. That was fine.
She took a deep breath.
"Alright! Let's do this!" she said, punching her fist in the air, this time, not in a dream.
In twenty minutes she reached Usagi Road. She was actually a bit early. It was only 3.45 pm. Still, she didn't mind waiting. She had been so excited for today. And now it was finally here. But as she walked along the path to the basketball park, she could hear the sound of a basketball hitting the ground. Had Tetsuya-kun come earlier than she had?
She reached the basketball park and looked inside. Tetsuya-kun was drenched in sweat, breathing hard, his hands holding his basketball. It seemed like he was about to make a shot for the basketball hoop. His eyes were tight in concentration, his hands ready. Kirimi watched him in awe.
He let go of the ball with a 'whoosh'. Kirimi's eyes followed the ball. Wait...huh? The ball bounced off the hoop and fell on the pavement. But there was not a sign of disappointment or despair in the teal headed boy's eyes. He went to pick up the ball when he felt a figure watching him. He turned around.
"Kirimi-san," he said. "How long have you been standing there?"
Kirimi came out of her stupor.
"A-Ah, only about five minutes. Don't worry," she said.
Kuroko looked at Kirimi's face. She looked like she had just seen a pro basketball player make a slam dunk.
"Um," he said. "Was my failed shot that impressive, Kirimi-san?"
"Not at all! I mean, it was impressive, in the sense that you really were concentrating really hard on making the shot. It's too bad you didn't make it though!" said Kirimi, making her way to sit on the ground.
"Well, that's hardly surprising, since my shots never go in," said Kuroko matter-of-factly.
Kirimi looked at Kuroko with a surprised face.
"Eh?" she said.
But wasn't that what all basketball players aimed for?
"It's been that way since the beginning. I can't seem to ever score, no matter how hard I try," said Kuroko.
Now that she thought about, in the match she had watched him play in, he hadn't made a single shot, all he had done was pass the ball to his teammates, albeit sometimes and change the ball's course. The fact that he had done such impressive play without even scoring made her admire the blue haired boy even more.
"That's amazing…" said Kirimi, voicing out her thoughts.
Kuroko blinked in confusion.
"It isn't, really,"
Kirimi put her hand over her mouth.
"Ah, I'm sorry! I was just thinking that even though you can't make shots, you're still so passionate about the game, Tetsuya-kun," she said.
Kuroko stared at her, once again, in confusion.
"I'm the same," said Kirimi, continuing. "I can't really make shots. The only thing I'm good at is passing the ball and well…yes, I suppose that's it. Hehe!"
She giggled.
"Then, what about you Kirimi-san?" said Kuroko.
"Hmm?"
"You said that in such a casual, unconcerned way. You don't care much about making shots?" asked Kuroko.
Kirimi pondered on that.
"Hmm. Well, I would like to shoot and score myself one day but for me, just holding the ball was enough," said Kirimi with innocent but happy eyes. "If I could just watch someone play, if I could just hear the sound of the ball, if I could just…if I could just be with the ball, that was enough for me,"
The wind made some of the sakura petals in the tree dance in the air as Kirimi smiled at Kuroko, answering him.
Such a pure, innocent love for basketball. So pure that even if she couldn't shoot, she didn't care. Even if she couldn't play, she didn't care. All she wanted was to be around the sport. Kuroko was touched. It was slight, but you could make out on his face that he was awestruck.
"You're so pure, Kirimi-san," he said.
Kirimi blinked in surprise. P-Pure?
"You have such a pure but clear love for basketball," he continued.
He was so glad that he had helped this girl out of her predicament yesterday. Someone who loved basketball so much, someone who was so young but so passionate about it but in such a pure way. He wondered what Aomine-kun would have said had he met this girl. No, the Aomine-kun right now would have laughed at her, but the Aomine-kun he used to know? Things might have been different. But he was going to make things normal again. That's what he had promised himself.
Kirimi on the other hand, was a bit embarrassed.
"I'm not really 'pure', Tetsuya-kun," she said, a bit flushed. "I-"
But before she could finish, another gust of wind, this time a bit stronger, started to blow and it made the basketball on the ground roll away.
"Oh no! I made you spend all this time talking to me, I'm sorry for interrupting you," said Kirimi in realization.
Kuroko didn't answer her. He picked up the ball which was a few inches away and pointed it at Kirimi.
Kirimi didn't understand.
"Tetsuya-kun, what-"
"Play with me," he said in a voice she hadn't heard before.
"Eh?"
He looked at her with serious, sincere eyes with…a hint of desperation?
"Please, play basketball with me, Kirimi-san," he said.
Kirimi gave out an 'ah' in surprise.
"I can't! I already told you right? My hand is injured and I can only play for about fifteen to twenty minutes per day. I would like to play with you, Tetsuya-kun, I really would, but I-"
"Ten minutes is enough. Please," he said, looking right into her eyes. "Please play with me,"
Kuroko knew about her injury, he knew he was being impulsive and a bit selfish but he couldn't help it. It had been such a long time since he had seen a person like this purple haired girl, with such love for basketball. Even if it was only ten minutes, he felt he could accomplish something by playing with her.
Kirimi's eyes were glowing. Her hair was standing on end. Play basketball? Even though it had only been a month or so it felt like forever since she had done that. But at the same time she wanted to play.
Kirimi gulped down her nervousness.
"Alright, I'll do it," she said. "But only for fifteen minutes,"
She didn't understand why this person who probably played with his teammates everyday in school and who knows where else, was suddenly asking her, a basketball rookie(when you compared Kirimi to Kuroko) to play with him. But she didn't back down.
She got up off the ground and positioned herself a few feet behind Kuroko, and she spread her arms out a bit, ready to receive the ball. How long had it been since she had done this again?
Kirimi's eyes concentrated on the ball in Kuroko's hands. The wind blew yet again, signaling the start. Kuroko passed the ball to Kirimi. Even though her hand had been injured, even though her spirits had been crushed and even thought she was nervous, Kirimi caught the ball with her hands in the same, pin point precision she had had when she played with Shizuo.
And with the same slow motion like movement, something which seemed to happen in slow motion until a millisecond before it reached the player, she passed the ball back to Kuroko who had not been expecting a pass like that, that he nearly dropped the ball.
Kirimi looked up and smiled at Kuroko.
"How was that?" she asked.
This time the look of surprise on Kuroko's face was a bit clearer. How had she done that? He had never seen a pass like that before. In everything that he had observed and learned about passing till now, he had not seen a pass like that before.
"Ah, but when you think about it, the only thing I can do is pass the ball so I can't really play one on one with you," said Kirimi sheepishly. "I'm sorry for not being-"
"-Again, please,"
Kirimi blinked.
Kuroko looked at her with those same determined eyes of his.
"Please pass the ball to me again, Kirimi-san," said Kuroko, this time determined to concentrate on seeing how Kirimi passed the ball.
He threw the ball to her and once again, she caught it perfectly with her hands and made the same slow motion like pass back to Kuroko. Even though he tried to observe her movements and eyes when she passed the ball as much as possible, he couldn't make out how she did that.
"You're amazing, Kirimi-san," said Kuroko.
Kirimi went a bit red in embarrassment again.
"No, no! I'm not, really. That's the only thing I can really do in the game, pass the ball. It's not something great,"
Kuroko cocked his head to the side lightly.
"But that's what I do too, Kirimi-san, I pass the ball. And you said that you were impressed by my play," he said.
Kirimi shook her head.
"Tetsuya-kun, you have the experience of being in a team, not to mention a team like Teiko Middle School while I…well…" Kirimi trailed off.
Kirimi wasn't really sure she was ready to tell anyone, even Kuroko about her past with basketball and Shizuo. It still felt a bit tough to speak about that. But Kuroko paid no heed to her last sentence.
"I still think that your pass was amazing, Kirimi-san," he said. "I could never do a pass like that,"
Kirimi smiled at him, though her smile was a bit forced.
"Since passing was the only thing I could really do, I spent many hours at home trying to come up with different ways of passing. It may seem silly but that's what I did. I went over my physics and math books, trying to come up with ideas of how to hold the ball, how to make different passes. But this is the only pass I can actually do properly right now. All the others require more force and precision which I can't handle yet, with the current state of my hand," said Kirimi. "But you can! It's really easy! All you have to do is…"
Kirimi held Kuroko's hands and helped him put his hands and fingers around the ball the way she did. Kuroko found her way of holding the ball to be a bit unusual but he abided by what she was saying all the same.
"…there! Now I'm sure you'll be able to pass the ball like I did!" said Kirimi, at last.
She had tried teaching her way of passing and handling the ball to Shizuo but it had never worked so after a few months, she gave up. But Tetsuya-kun was different. He also specialized in passing the ball like her. That had to mean something. Maybe he could do it too.
But it didn't work. When he passed the ball to Kirimi, it seemed like an ordinary pass.
"Don't worry about it, Tetsuya-kun. I'm sure someone like you will be able to learn it really quickly. I'd love to show you all my notes about the different passes I've made up! I'm sure if you practice you'll be able to do them!" said Kirimi reassuringly.
That brought out a question from Kuroko.
"What? You mean you have more techniques like this? How many have you made?" he asked.
In a nearby bush, a butterfly got caught in a spider's web. It was trying hard to escape.
"Well, I've written a lot of theories but more than half of them fail and another quarter of them never seemed to work. And out of that quarter which is left, I think only a few are really useful, I think," said Kirimi, pondering on that.
"Could…could you show those theories to me, Kirimi-san?" asked Kuroko.
Kirimi looked at him.
"Really? You'd like to see them? I-I mean, of course, I'd love to show you! I really would!" said Kirimi, feeling incredibly happy.
"Yes, I would love to see them. And maybe together we can work on them?"
Kirimi beamed at Kuroko.
"Yes! That would be wonderful!"
She had never been able to show her theories. Shizuo wasn't really the studious type and while he did find her passes impressive, he always talked about making shots into the basket. Not that she blamed him though.
"Kirimi-san," said Kuroko. "Who taught how to pass like this? Or rather, think about passing the ball in basketball this way?"
Kirimi put her finger on her chin.
"Hmm, I didn't really learn it from anywhere. I've been passing and handling the ball like that as far as I can remember," answered Kirimi.
The butterfly was trying so hard, its wing might tear.
"I see," said Kuroko.
A skill like this where passing was something she had done from the beginning, something that was ingrained in her, it was impressive. Kirimi's hands didn't seem exactly long or strong when he had seen them when she had helped him put the ball in position, they seemed normal for the most part.
"Kirimi-san," said Kuroko. "Forgive me for asking you so suddenly but, how old are you?"
She was definitely younger than him, but he didn't know by how much.
"I'm twelve years old," answered Kirimi. "And technically, starting next term I should be a first year in middle school,"
Though she had definitely studied books far beyond middle school and high school…
Kuroko blinked. He had found that weird too.
"I'm starting my first year in high school next term," said Kuroko. "But, wait, what do you mean 'technically"?"
The butterfly felt like giving up, its wings were hurting so much, but it didn't want to give up, it still had hope…
Kirimi fidgeted slightly.
"Well, I'm homeschooled you see. I've never been to school before. It's been that way since the beginning," said Kirimi, a bit sadly.
Kuroko was thinking. Was this the reason she had such over-protective parents? If so, she might come from a rich family. If he remembered correctly, the car her parents had come in that day had been an expensive, popular model. She was probably homeschooled because her parents put a lot of high expectations on her.
But she had talent. She had talent and love for basketball. And now, because of her injury, she couldn't play basketball either. But her skill in passing was something that should not be overlooked. He wanted to learn how to pass like he did. And it was just a hunch, but Kuroko felt that she had potential for more. She had good brains for basketball which could be put to use.
The butterfly, which was still stuck in the spider web, was near giving up hope but it was still fighting, fighting, trying to be set free. The bush swayed slight as the wind started to blow again.
"Kirimi-san," said Kuroko. "I have a small proposal. How would you like to come to my high school with me?"
For one second Kirimi was normal but the next second her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.
"H-H-Huh? W-What are you talking about Tetsuya-kun?" she exclaimed in surprise.
Had he misheard her? She said she was going to be a first year in middle school! And besides, her parents would never let her enroll in high school, or any school for that matter!
"I mean what I said. I know you're barely a middle school student but I think you'd like it. The high school I'm going to, it has a basketball club and I think they'll really be wonderful people," said Kuroko earnestly. "I think it would be a good experience for you,"
A…Ah…
This sudden proposal was a ridiculous! What would Kirimi do in this high school basketball club anyway?
"I…I still don't understand what you're trying to say but, I won't be able to enroll there, much less-"
"You don't have to become a student there," said Kuroko. "You can just accompany me there during club time hours,"
Kirimi was confused.
"I still don't understand. Even if I did that, I don't understand the purpose of it. What would I do there? I don't think a high school basketball club would just let some random middle school student observe their matches…" said Kirimi uncertainly.
"But you won't be some random middle school student, Kirimi-san," said Kuroko. "You'll be there with me,"
H-Huh? Kirimi couldn't understand what he was talking about.
"Tetsuya-kun, what-"
"Kirimi-san," said Kuroko, his expression a bit serious all of a sudden. "Actually, I have a goal I want to achieve in high school,"
Kirimi was about to ask him what he meant again but stopped when she heard his last sentence.
"A goal?" she repeated.
Kirimi temporarily forgot about Kuroko's sudden invitation to his high school. He looked really serious right now. Kirimi couldn't help but feel curious.
"Yes, a goal. It's something I've been planning for a while now, actually. I'm not sure I can actually do it though. No, even though I feel that way, I feel that I have to do it,"
Kirimi looked at Kuroko while he paused.
"W-What is this goal you have?" she asked hesitantly.
Kuroko's eyes became a bit dark now.
The wind blew stronger and stronger. The butterfly was still struggling in the spider's web.
"Do you remember what I told you the other day, before your parents arrived?"
Flashback:
"T-That…well. It's something a person like you wouldn't understand anyway. You're in a great basketball team, you have loving teammates who share the same passion as you do, what would you need to worry about? You wouldn't understand my reasons," said Kirimi, showing her frustration on the boy.
Kirimi put her hands over her mouth. What had she done? She had let her emotions control her. She had just spoken rudely to a stranger who had actually been listening to her, comforting her while she had been wasting his time. When she looked up, she saw the boy look at her, the gleam in his eyes all gone. She felt that he wanted to tell her something. But he didn't. The minute she had finished, she immediately felt really mean for saying that to him. It was true that he was in a team but she shouldn't have let her jealously show like that.
"I'm sorry," said Kirimi almost immediately. "I-I really didn't mean to say that. I-I just let my frustrations get to me and showed it out on you, really, I didn't mean it. More like, thank you. Even though I just started throwing what I was feeling on you after you helped me when I collapsed, without even properly thanking you for what you did, you kept listening to me and even gave me advice even though I'm a total stranger, a totally rude stranger at that you-"
"I don't have all that," said the boy, cutting through Kirimi's excessively long apology cum thankfulness.
"-Ah," said Kirimi, cut short, who was still apologizing. But then she digested what he said. "Eh?"
The boy looked at her with lost eyes.
"A great basketball team, teammates who share the same passion as me…I don't have those, and I do have a lot of things to worry about,"
It had just come out of him without realizing it. When she had said those words, the painful memories which were only floating slightly came in full force back to him. The girl's words had been hurtful but what she had said had impacted him a lot.
Kirimi looked at him.
"What are you-" she started.
End of Flashback.
That's right. Just before her parents had arrived, she had heard him say these things. She had been arguing and had lost her temper and her cool and had lashed at Kuroko when he…when he said that he didn't have all that; that he didn't have a great basketball, teammates who share the same passion for basketball as he did…he didn't have those things?
Kirimi looked at Kuroko.
"Now that you mention it, what…what was the meaning of that?" she asked.
"Kirimi-san, is winning important to you?" asked Kuroko after a few moments.
"Winning?" repeated Kirimi. "Winning…in a match you mean? I've never really been in one so I don't know…"
"Let me make that clearer," said Kuroko. "Is winning important to you, in anything you like or you're good at?"
Kirimi pondered.
"I don't really have that many hobbies. The only thing I do is study most of the time, you see," said Kirimi sheepishly.
"How would you feel if you failed in your studies?" asked Kuroko.
Kirimi felt like someone had electrocuted her head.
"What? I'd feel horrible, of course! Studying is something I've been doing my whole life! It may not exactly be a hobby, but after all the hard work I put into it, I'd be completely lost if I lost a single rank, let alone fail!" said Kirimi immediately.
"You would feel that way, wouldn't you?" said Kuroko.
Of course she'd feel that way. To fail in something you've been doing your whole life would be painful. She may not exactly be thrilled about her studies but they had aided her in her basketball with Shizuo. But, still…
"Tetsuya-kun, I don't understand. What do my studies have to do with this?" asked Kirimi, lost.
Kuroko's eyes narrowed slightly.
"In a test or an exam, unless you prepare for it, you won't do well. You'll fail. Basketball is the same. If you take your opponents for granted, or don't practice well before a match, you'll lose it," said Kuroko.
"Isn't that obvious?" asked Kirimi.
"Yes. It certainly sounds obvious. But, is it really? Suppose you become really good at your studies or basketball, that you don't have to study or practice for them at all, and you can win, no matter what; how would you feel?" asked Kuroko.
Kirimi paused. That…that was something she hadn't thought about in her life.
"I…I don't know about basketball but, initially, I think I'd be euphoric. But then, as time went by, I think I'd actually hate it," said Kirimi thinking. "I wouldn't feel like I earned it anymore. I think…it would actually become boring,"
The butterfly in the web was getting worried now. The spider might come back to eat it any second. It had to get out, fast.
Kuroko looked at her with his narrowed eyes.
"Yes, that's how you'd feel, wouldn't you?" he said again.
Kirimi wasn't called intelligent for nothing. She began putting things together and was starting to come up with an idea.
"Tetsuya-kun, could it be…could it be that this is what your teammates feel about basketball?" asked Kirimi looking at Kuroko's eyes.
Kuroko's eyes closed temporarily.
"You're not going to ask if I feel that way about basketball, Kirimi-san?" asked Kuroko.
Kirimi shook her head.
"That would be foolish of me. Anyone who observes you can see that you obviously love basketball. And, you yourself said that you have a goal, didn't you? That goal you mentioned is obviously related to basketball. You wouldn't have that goal if you felt that basketball was boring," said Kirimi.
Kuroko clenched his fists. He opened his eyes again.
"Hating something you love is such a terrible thing," said Kuroko. "But I came to hate it. I came to hate the basketball that I loved,"
Kirimi gasped.
"What? You hated basketball?" whispered Kirimi.
"Yes. When we met for the first time, during that period, I hated it," said Kuroko.
"But that was only a while ago," said Kirimi.
Is that why he had looked so sad back then?
"Don't worry," said Kuroko. "I don't hate basketball now. I love it. But at that time, I really did hate it. I hated to see what my team's basketball had become,"
The expression on Kuroko's face made Kirimi feel like her own heart was hurting.
"My teammates were always exceptional, even from the start," continued Kuroko. "And we all loved basketball, and we all loved winning our games. But soon, we didn't play basketball because we loved it anymore. We started playing it just to win. Soon, it was obvious that we didn't even need to give our all while playing so some of our team members even skipped practice. To everyone else, we looked like the perfect team, but the reality was, it was the opposite,"
Kirimi was listening to every word. This feeling…this feeling of overwhelming loss was familiar to her.
"Losing wasn't an option anymore. We'd play, we'd win. Not because we wanted to do. Not because we had to. It would just come to us, even without asking," said Kuroko.
He looked at Kirimi.
"My teammates got bored of it, Kirimi-san. They got bored of playing basketball,"
Kirimi looked at basketball hoop, dancing in the slight breeze. Getting so good at basketball that you got bored with it? Was that even possible? Was it actually possible to become so good at something? Wouldn't you be happy if you were good at it?
"But, nobody's unbeatable, Tetsuya-kun," said Kirimi, after a few moments. "Even if they're amazing players, if they don't practice, they won't win. If they have no love for basketball, how can they even play it?"
Kuroko looked at the basketball hoop as well.
"They don't know the meaning of defeat, Kirimi-san. They are that powerful, you wouldn't understand. They're not called the Generation of Miracles for nothing," said Kuroko.
"They're that strong?" asked Kirimi. "Are they so strong that they can still win at basketball even though they don't really like it? That…that sounds horrible,"
Kuroko clutched at his chest.
"It hurts," he said, pain truly showing on his face now. "It hurts to see my teammates who loved basketball so much in this state now. It hurts to play like this. Slowly, that hurt in me developed to hate. I couldn't stand it anymore. I hated it. I quit my school's basketball team,"
Kirimi felt so bad for Kuroko. She felt so bad that he had to go through something like this. His normally expressionless face looked contorted with emotions. She felt her hands shaking. She knew that feeling all too well. She had hated it too. She had hated to hate something she loved so much too. But she didn't know what to say to comfort him.
"I was prepared to leave basketball behind me. But you know, Kirimi-san," said Kuroko, with glistening eyes. "I couldn't. I couldn't hate it for long. I had to play again,"
Kirimi's eyes were glistening now as well. Tears started accumulating in her eyes.
"I understand how you feel, Tetsuya-kun," said Kirimi, gulping back tears. "I tried to leave basketball behind me as well, you were witness to that. But like you said, it wouldn't go away. I needed it in my life. I'm so sorry,"
Kuroko gave her a ghost of a smile.
"Yes, we're in the same boat right now, aren't we, Kirimi-san?"
Kirimi suddenly gasped with realization. Her hands were trembling now, not shaking.
"So that's why," she said, tears falling down her face. "That's why you were so insistent on making my eyes see my love for basketball again,"
Kuroko nodded.
"Yes, because I had been through the same situation, I couldn't bear to see any person lose what I nearly lost myself. I had to help you," said Kuroko.
Kirimi wiped away her tears. She felt so bad, she almost felt horrible. If hadn't been her intention, but temporarily, in the time she had known him, Kirimi had acted just Kuroko. She had made him see a mirror of him again in her.
"And I'm extremely grateful for that, Tetsuya-kun," said Kirimi. "Your goal is to make your teammates love basketball again, isn't it?"
It felt obvious to Kirimi now. Why hadn't she realized it before? She had forgotten her previous doubts now. She wanted to help this person who had helped her so much. She wanted to do the best she could to help him achieve his goal. She still didn't know how she'd do it, but she wanted to be part of it.
Kuroko had to smile slightly. She had figured it out without him even really saying it.
"That's right," said Kuroko. "But to do it, I need to become the best basketball team in Japan, along with my teammates,"
Kirimi's mouth opened into a complete 'o'.
"A-Amazing," said Kirimi, awestruck. "And, you're really going to do that when your start high school?"
"That's right," said Kuroko. "And that's where I need you, Kirimi-san,"
Kirimi blinked.
"Huh? I-"
Her eyes fell to a nearby bush where the butterfly was, almost free from the spider's web. But she didn't feel free, she felt stuck. She wanted to help him, especially after hearing his story. She wanted to learn more about the Generation of Miracles. She wanted to by Kuroko's side, to help him. But, how? What could she do?
Kuroko answered her question for her.
"Kirimi-san, it seems to me that you're a very intelligent and clever person. And you love basketball very much. You need to be around basketball," said Kuroko.
"But I told you, I can't play," said Kirimi, her hands fiddling with her shirt. "I want to help, but…I…"
"You don't have to play. Didn't you say that just being near a basketball is enough for you? You can observe the basketball club in my high school," said Kuroko.
"I'd love that, Tetsuya-kun, but I don't think your team would like that. I'd feel like I was imposing as well, just being a bystander," said Kirimi.
"But you won't be a bystander, Kirimi-san,"
"Huh?" asked Kirimi surprised.
"You'll be a part of the team," said Kuroko.
Kirimi tried to fathom this but she couldn't.
"W-What? How?" asked Kirimi, perplexed.
"You'll be my personal coach," said Kuroko.
…
E…
Eh…?
Ehhhh?
"W-W-W-What?" stammered Kirimi. "Coach? Yours? What? Huh?"
"You can't play basketball, but you have talent for it, even if it's only for passing balls and you can't shoot. You can't let that talent go to waste. I would like to ask you to lend me your strength," said Kuroko.
"But I've never used them in a real match before! Not to mention, for teammates as strong as the Generation of Miracles, they'd never work!" said Kirimi, unable to take it in.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Kirimi-san," said Kuroko. "I feel that you have potential to be a real good coach, especially for me. And your passions rival that of an experienced player,"
Ah…
"Your style of passing surprised me, Kirimi-san. And, I really want to learn how to do it. That was what I thought when I first saw it. And you said you have lots of other techniques written down,"
"But I've never used them professionally. How would they help you? How do you know if they'll even be useful for you?" asked Kirimi.
The wind was getting stronger again. Kirimi and Kuroko's gazes were interlocked with each other.
"Because, I believe you can do it, Kirimi-san," said Kuroko.
The butterfly gave one last strong attempt and in a second, it was free.
"But, it's actually selfish of me to ask you though, so if you decline, I would totally understand," said Kuroko.
Kirimi's eyes opened widely again. He…believed in her? That was like what you'd tell a person on your team. He believed that she could actually do it when she didn't. But how could he be so sure? He barely knew her and yet he trusted her so much. Kirimi was thankful but she didn't know whether she could live up to those expectations. But she wanted to help Kuroko; she wanted to do something for him.
She didn't know what to say.
"I…" started Kirimi, softly.
Kuroko watched her, hoping that she'd say yes. His intuition was telling him that this young girl could really help him with his goal. He knew he was being selfish, he knew that he was taking a chance, but he still wanted to see what else this girl had up her sleeve and he'd also gotten used to her presence now. He liked being around her. It was a mixture of things, but he wanted her to accept.
Kirimi closed her eyes. She felt the breeze in her hair, her hands, and her heart. It was going tha-thump right now. Would Shizuo approve of this? That was the thought which suddenly came to her head. It seemed like an age ago since she'd seen him. She remembered his determined face, his love for basketball, and his skills which he passed on to her as well. He'd tell her to go for it. He'd tell her that she was lucky that one of the Generation of Miracles was even talking to her.
But, no. This wasn't just about what Shizuo would say. Whenever she had clung to him before, he used to tell her to think for herself. What did she want? She wanted basketball. With whom did she want it? She wanted it with Tetsuya-kun. Why did she want it? To be able to show Shizuo who was now somewhere, someplace, that she was still into basketball and that she was going to be part of a team which would become the best in Japan. She also wanted it to be a way to thank Tetsuya-kun. Helping him reach his goal…yes, she wanted that.
"I'll do it," she whispered very softly.
"Eh?" said Kuroko.
"I said I'll do it. I…I don't know if I can really do it well. But, I don't want to let you down, Tetsuya-kun. I don't want to let myself down either. I can't play basketball yet, but I want to watch you play basketball more. I love watching you play! I want to learn more from a person who loves basketball just like me. I want to help you reach your goal. It may account to nothing, but I want to thank you for what you did for me. I want to thank you for giving me an opportunity to be with basketball again, for rekindling my love for it again. I don't know what I would have done without you. But this is perfect. It's a great way to thank you. I definitely want you to reach your goal! I'm still not sure how my skills would be useful but, but… I'll do my best as your coach!"
The free butterfly was now dancing, spreading its wings. It passed by Kirimi's face and stopped for a second and then continued on, beyond the sunset.
Kuroko's face broke into a smile. He opened his mouth.
"Then, I look forward to becoming the best team in Japan with you, Kirimi-san," said Kuroko, extending his hand.
Kirimi brought her own smaller hand forward and they shook hands.
The birds were chirping and the sun was shining. The sunlight was creeping its way through Kirimi's windowsill. Kirimi was sprawled on her bed, her eyes crinkling as the sunlight gradually got brighter. She opened her eyes, sat up in bed and looked at her clock. It was 5.55am. So she still had a few minutes to herself before her daily routine began. And then, suddenly it hit her.
Today, she was not going to be following her daily routine anymore. Kuroko had suddenly suggested that she became his personal coach, which Kirimi had accepted after a long conversation with him. It had been two weeks since then. And today, she would be going to high school...
Two weeks ago, the night after Kirimi became Kuroko's coach:
"How the heck am I going to convince my parents about going to a local high school with Tetsuya-kun?" whispered Kirimi to herself as she went home.
She had been so absorbed in her own worries about how she would be useful to Kuroko and her feelings of wanting to thank him, that she had completely forgotten her parents. What was she going to do now?
She opened the door to her house and stepped inside. She looked at the clock on the wall. It was 8. had made it on time. She wasn't late. She was informed that her mother and father were home and that she should join them for dinner.
Kirimi could hardly eat anything as she was so frightened about what she was going to say to her parents. Would they approve? Would they really? Them approving over her being with Kuroko was a miracle as it is. Surely, luck wouldn't be on her side again, would it? But she still had to try. She set her fork and spoon down and looked at her parents.
"Okaa-sama," she started. "I would like to thank you once again, for allowing me to be with basketball again,"
She waited for her mother's response.
Mayu put down her knife and fork and wiped her mouth with a table cloth.
"We've told you, Kirimi. You can only continue doing this as long as your grades don't go down. If you start falling in your grades, this will stop immediately,"
Kirimi nodded.
"Yes, I understand," said Kirimi.
"And?" asked her father, who was on the other side of the table. "Is that all you wanted to tell us?"
Kirimi clenched her fists under the dinner table.
"Actually," said Kirimi. "I wanted to ask you another favor. I…I would be very grateful if you would allow me to accompany Tetsuya-kun to his high school, while he practices in the school's basketball team,"
Kirimi could feel the sweat in her clenched fists.
Mayu and Hiro looked at each other.
"How far away is this school, Kirimi?" asked Hiro.
"It's actually quite close by," said Kirimi. "It's a school which recently opened only last year, Seirin High School,"
Kirimi had gotten the details from Kuroko. She wanted to wipe her sweaty palms.
"I don't see the difference. All you're going to be doing is spending your time in this high school instead of…that…that park or whatever It was, correct?" asked Mayu.
"Y-Yes, that's right," said Kirimi.
"Then there should be no problems. Both your father and I are only concerned about your grades, Kirimi. Your grades slipped slightly when we took this basketball away from you. That was the main reason why I allowed this. Because, no matter how much we tried, we couldn't make you see anything else. As long as your grades don't slip again due to you spending too much time on this sport, we do not mind," said Hiro.
Kirimi unclenched her palms.
It…It was really ok then,as long as her grades stayed up?
"Incidentally," said Mayu. "There is an upcoming debate tournament coming up. The debate's subject deals with 'following your own dreams'. I expect you to participate in this debate and come out with flying colors, Kirimi,"
"I will, okaa-sama, otou-sama," said Kirimi determinedly. "I won't disappoint you,"
End of flashback.
Kirimi had studied for the debate every day until 3am, even though it hadn't been necessary. But she was determined to show her parents that she could be on top even with basketball. She passed with flying colors, but she only felt a sense of relief, not a sense of victory. She could not afford to lose her precious basketball and her precious friend Kuroko now.
In the last two weeks, they had become fast friends. Kuroko liked to read, and so did Kirimi. Kuroko liked milkshakes and so did Kirimi, though the flavors they preferred were different. She honestly thought his obsession with vanilla milkshakes was a bit frightening really.
Other than that, Kirimi had brought out all her notebooks with the countless little theories and techniques she had accumulated over time and showed them to Kuroko. She had felt a little embarrassed showing him some of her childish techniques but Kuroko had looked at all of them with interest and had studied them intensely, which made Kirimi feel giddy with happiness. He had also shared some of the passes he had learned throughout middle school which Kirimi found fascinating as well. She jotted them down excitedly.
She had also investigated Seirin High School on its official website in free time. Kirimi still didn't understand why Kuroko had chosen this particular school, but it was his decision. And they weren't a bad school. They had gone far into the inter high last year with just first years on their team.
And today was the day. Today was the day Kirimi would enter a high school for the first time and officially start her work as Kuroko Tetsuya's personal coach.
And it's done! This ends the prologue. Starting with the next chapter, we move on to the main story. Did you like the chapter? Let me know with a review! :)