Chapter 1 : So We Shall Begin Spinning
'Here at last? All for me, just for me and therefore, here I come.'
KAORI
Hanamiya smiled contentedly as he realized what this meant. Just when he'd begun to lose hope completely in his new high school, he had found something to do. Kentaro Seto had proved himself to be very useful after all.
"So that's how it is then, Seto?"
Seto leaned backwards on his chair and hummed in response. Hanamiya's glee was evident as he began to explore the ideas that were rushing into his ex-dormant mind.
"Then it seems so that an entry is in order."
Seto barely acknowledged him as he had done what he had to. He would be seeing the effects of it soon enough so there was no need to pay attention to anything else here- he had done his part.
Hanamiya walked into class the next morning and found the girl in the spot Seto had told him she would be in. She didn't notice him come in or walk past all the seats and occupy the very last one. He took her appearance in from where he sat- her (h/c) hair, her legs that didn't extend as much in her seat and her eyes that were currently exploring nothing in particular. She struggled to pay attention to what the teacher said but made it a point to never lose focus. He made more such observations about the girl and the others in the classroom. At one point of time the girl got so bored she poked her partner to wake him up but received no response at all.
It would take a lot more than a poke to wake Seto.
The end of the class came too late for the girl but too soon for Hanamiya. Seto sat up just in time to answer when his name was called. When Hanamiya's name was called, the teacher didn't even bother looking up but the girl did. She looked at the empty desk on the other corner of the classroom and her expression perked his interest. There was annoyance and something else that tweaked his attention. Not only had Seto been telling the truth, he had been overly accurate in his observations. The girl was like a textbook in the way her actions matched Seto's description. Never a deviation, in perfect sync and the easiest to predict.
Hanamiya had never approved of textbooks. There was a reason he barely attended classes and used his own ways to learn. He was the last one to walk out of class but Seto waited for him at the door.
"So we've found the prescribed textbook after all, Seto."
He nodded once again before leaving to his next class he knew Hanamiya would not attend.
MIZUKI
Hanamiya walked slowly, completely ignoring the buzzing phone in his pocket. The half-eaten chocolate in his hand would not lose his attention.
"Hanamiya-san! You're so late…. All of the first years have been waiting for you, you know?"
His gaze fell upon the boy he called the team's manager. It was a good pick for what he wanted from a manager – just a presence. After all, he was the one who would manage it all.
"Shut up.. So what if they wait a bit? Like they have anywhere else to go. I'm here now and they can begin their show. I hope your pick is more decent than the incompetent ones you considered to have potential the previous year…."
"No no Coach! We have some very promising ones this time. There's even a transfer student from America- see! He's taller than most third years."
Hanamiya glanced at the boy who was being pointed at- true to the description, the boy was tall. He stood out among the first years because of his height and manner. The manner part was what caught Hanamiya's attention before his stature.
"Whatever, just start the game already."
It did look like the manager had done his part extremely well. The 'recruits' of the year weren't bad at all and it wasn't just because of a human typhoon on the court. Even Hanamiya's gaze flickered from bored to a little interested as the boy made his play.
The boy was not playing to make it into the team at all. He wasn't trying to make it into the first string either. Hanamiya smirked as he realized this much- no, he wasn't trying any of those things.
He was just showing off.
"Hmm.. Not bad, don't you think?"
His constant companion Seto had woken up to check the action as well.
"Heh? You think so too? He must be okay then.. He has assumed his position already. I'm pretty sure its not even the bench that's on his mind. His sights must be on the starting line-up."
"That must be so." Seto rarely ever bothered saying much unless he had to.
"So its decided then?" Hanamiya didn't see why not.
"It doesn't look that sure to me."
Seto handed the sign-up sheet to Hanamiya who read the boy's name. His black eyes narrowed slightly at the boy's surname.
"Are you sure?"
"I already checked."
"Ooh. So you're quite perked up to see this too, aren't you?"
Seto's blush was barely evident but Hanamiya picked it up and returned a smirk.
"I guess I am a little curious."
"Coach! You haven't named the transfer boy in your list at all! Are you making a special pick of some sort?"
"Don't spout out crap now, idiot. If they're not on the list then they're not anywhere. I don't care about the second and third strings so who goes there is not something you should be asking me."
Rin, the manager whose name Hanamiya never cared to call him with turned pale at Hanamiya's usual tone with him. In his third year of high school, this was his second year as coach. But it was more than usual for the managers to come and go – nobody ever made it but this boy had. Still, the success meant nothing when it came to his ability to stand the devil's intimidating manner.
"I'm sorry, Hanamiya-san but I was asking about the boy you just saw. He scored 40 points and made 12 assists."
"Ohh that brat? Well. He has way too much energy. And taming him is too much of a pain in the ass. Put him on the third string if he really wants to play- I don't care."
"Coach?! You did just see him play.. Are you sure yo-"
Hanamiya's step toward him came in a swish as he grabbed him and raised him off the ground- he was scrawny to begin with.
"Do you want to find out how sure I am?"
Rin shook his head until Hanamiya's eyes saw enough fear and the black in them lit up in strange amusement.
"Is this necessary right now?" Seto's bored voice broke out from behind Hanamiya. Their strange relationship had developed well in the years. It was only Seto who could talk to Hanamiya- not ask or tell. Ordering and suggesting were still unimaginable, it was just a background voice.
Still, Hanamiya's amused eyes looked as if they were seeing some private memory as he threw down the boy.
"Indeed. This was all unnecessary from the minute the kid made up his mind to join the basketball club…."
And as he walked off with Seto beside him, Rin did not miss Hanamiya's words that vibrated in a way that made his blood freeze.
"He's my access to her, after all."
A/N : This story will be written this way. Two pieces in each chapter from Hanamiya's first and third year of high school.
Let me know what you think of it! :)
