KAIJOU'S SHIRO

Chapter II


After the whole fiasco with Kaijou's feared Captain passing out on their manager's lap, practice swiftly resumed as if nothing ever happened – which was of course a huge and blatant lie that everybody was absolutely guilty of.

Regular warm-ups were a mess, since everyone was too distracted by the new addition to their club to concentrate. During shooting practice, more than five guys were trying to show off and ended up missing every single shot. While they're doing suicide drills, there is at least a casualty rate of two guys per second because they're not paying attention to where they're going. It also doesn't help that Shiro is studying them with great interest and curiosity. Interest because this is the first time she's actually watching a basketball practice at play, and curiosity because she is wondering why everyone is getting self-inflicted injuries during warm-ups.

In the end, everybody nominates Shinya to show her the ropes and hopefully distract her from staring at them so much, because the intensity of her eyes is starting to affect even Kise. The blonde model is missing every single pass and shot and is hitting anyone who's not paying enough attention to catch the ball.

Though that could be because even the friendly blonde himself is getting a tiny bit pissed at the way his teammates are shamelessly eye-fucking one of his dearest friends, and is missing on purpose. The way-too-cheerful smile on his face when he apologizes for 'accidentally' hitting someone should be enough proof for that, really.

"I was not aware that basketball practice could be so…dangerous, Shinya-senpai," Shiro states, her clipboard out and already taking notes regarding the number of practice drills.

"It's just you, trust me," Shinya says frankly, pushing up his glasses.

"I'm simply wondering why it's you who's showing me the ropes senpai. I expected the vice-captain to do it."

Shinya shakes his head, and gestures to the tall third-year who's desperately trying not to look their way.

"Kobori Kouji, jersey number 8 is our current vice-captain," Shinya smoothly explains, "he's also our center."

"Why isn't he teaching me then?"

Because he looks like he really wants to talk to you, if only he can get the shit out of his ass fast enough to do that. And I can assure you that whatever he wants to talk to you about will have nothing to do with basketball, Shinya inwardly sighs, annoyed by his senpais' hijinks and 'quirks'.

"You don't want to know."

Shiro takes that explanation with a brief 'Okay' and continues on a different line of questioning.

"So are there individual training menus for everyone? Besides what I've already seen," Shiro quickly switches topic.

Shinya, deciding to accept her change of conversation, nods and continues explaining to her the dynamics of their team as they occasionally watch the match play out. Today is the first-years against the second years, and Ryouta's team was barely pushing ahead by two points, which was a common occurrence in their practice matches. Shinya faintly notices the intense concentration behind Shiro's eyes as she quickly pens down whatever the bespectacled second-year is saying. The reserve shooting guard actually knows the white-haired girl through his mother and her modelling manager, Nakamura Kana, and is gravely aware of the amount of work the freshman girl goes through on a daily basis and feels like she's overdoing it with the whole manager kick.

"Aren't you tired?" Shinya asks bluntly.

Shiro blinks owlishly at him, before slowly nodding. "A little."

How vague.

Shinya deadpans, "Are you even getting enough sleep every night?"

"Four hours. I've been getting better at sleeping three."

No, that is not okay. That is DEFINITELY not okay. Even Kasamatsu knocks in for 5 hours a day, Shiro-san!

"Shiro-san, why are you applying for manager?" Shinya asks straightforwardly, folding his arms and staring intently at the white-haired author. Like Kasamatsu and occasionally Kobori, Shinya has quite a bit of authority as a second-year of the Kaijou Basketball Club. He already looks intimidating with his generally stern-looking face and glasses, so it's impossible for anyone to actually deny him. He just wants to know the white-haired girl's motivation to be their club manager. He is not in favor of somebody who's only doing it just because they can, or for attention for that matter, and still doesn't know what his mother is thinking suggesting the young author to join the basketball club.

"Because if you're doing it just for Kise, I suggest that you quit," Shinya adds, "it won't do to have the quality of your books drop just because you're too busy babysitting the team. And I'm perfectly aware that you need to keep your stamina and health in top shape for your modelling job."

Shiro seems a little bit stunned by what her manager's son is saying. There's a short-term silence between as the sounds of dribbling, running and panting being the only things that weren't making the silence too awkward. Just as Shinya is about to give up and tell the girl to forget about it, Shiro confidently breaks his worries in a single sentence.

"I am not doing this because Ryouta asked me too – even though I admit that his persuasions as well as Kana-san's contribute a huge factor in my decision to become club manager," Shiro explains firmly, "I'm doing it because as an author, I would be missing out a shining opportunity to gain valuable exposure of the inner workings of basketball and managing a club, and how it feels like to be part of a team."

Shinya takes a sharp intake of breath, a tiny bit unnerved by the calm stare his junior is shooting at him, and how the gym is suddenly so damn quiet.

"I am aware of the repercussions and consequences of my decision, and I will take proper action to ensure that it does not affect my well-being. Just like in my writing and modelling, I will give my all in helping this team reach the top," Shiro takes a deep breath, and relinquishes her stare on her senpai, "I am not lying when I say that I want to make Kaijou High's Basketball Team No. 1 in Japan, as long we can all co-operate to make it happen. I will take my job as manager as seriously as possible, and I will prove it to you, senpai."

There's a moment where all time stops and Shinya feels that he and Shiro are the only two people in the room. There's a steely glint in her eyes and her lips are formed into a determined frown. Being the quietest and most observant on his team, Shinya can tell whether a person is lying or not giving their all through their words alone. And he can tell, for all the times he has the chance to watch Shiro at work; she's being completely serious about her decision.

Shinya sighs anyway, the worried crease in his eyebrows fading slightly.

"I'll hold you to that then, Shiro-san," the bespectacled teen smiles tiredly at Shiro.

You keep to your word, and you're gonna fit in all right with us, is what Shinya wants to say but doesn't.

"Will do, senpai," Shiro agrees firmly, her usually stoic face glowing with determination.

Shinya wishes he can hold onto the peaceful moment for a while longer, but the loud sobbing behind them slowly breaks the burning tension between the two.

They whip their heads to the direction of the sobbing, and the second-year can't help but deadpan at what seemed like half of the Kaijou High Basketball Club tearing up like little kids.

"H-How beautiful Hime! Of course we'll work together with you!" Moriyama cries out happily as he saunters forward and passes the white-haired manager a rose that appeared out of nowhere. "I'll be playing for you from now on, okay, Hime~?"

And to the horrified jealousy of the entire team, Moriyama lifts up the younger girl's hand and presses a kiss onto the back of her hand. As per usual, Shiro greatly fails to see the underlying meaning behind it. Instead, she gently pulls her hand away from the third-year and bows gratefully.

"Thank you, senpai, I apologize that I do not know your name yet, but I am truly appreciative of your efforts to make Kaijou number one," Shiro says earnestly. For a moment, the sparkly, lovestruck aura surrounding Moriyama dies and the pretty-faced teen seizes up completely. His brain is completely failing to respond to the current situation right now because shit I did not expect to go this far with her what do I do now?

"YEAH! W[E'LL] MAKE KAIJOU NUMB[ER] ONE! [AAARGGGGGH]! I'M [ALL] F[IR]ED UP NOW!" Hayakawa slaps his cheeks enthusiastically, making everyone around him back away from him quickly. Shiro's silvery blue eyes widen at the sight and she quickly runs past the players to grab the power forward's hands with her own.

"Senpai. Please don't hurt yourself like that, you'll end up with brain damage in the near future," Shiro admonishes very seriously, which actually does make Hayakawa stop as his cheeks redden considerably – and not from the slapping either.

"H-HAI! I'M V[ERY] S[ORRY], MANAG[ER]-SAN! I W[ILL] DO MY BEST TO STOP!" Hayakawa roars in embarrassment, making everyone sweatdrop because he resumes slapping himself hysterically after that.

Just as Shiro is about to stop the explosive rebounder again, she feels a heavy hand patting on her head, and looks up to see the vice-captain looking down at her with a calm but friendly smile on his face. And…was he trembling?

"Thank you for your words, Shiro-sensei, we're expecting great things from you," Kobori says, tone a little shaky as he gently pats his idol's soft white hair.

S-Sensei…? Everybody sweatdropped.

"SHIROCCHI~!" the white-haired girl jolts in surprise when a blonde-haired comet dashes towards her in the speed of light and throws himself face-first onto hair, tearing her away from their senpai's hand. Kise is smiling like an idiot while his arms are wrapped possessively around the smaller girl's waist, face nuzzling onto the crown of her hair.

"Your speech was awesome, Shirocchi~! I was so moved ~suu! I promise we'll become number one in Japan, just for you ~suu!" Kise promises sincerely, hugging the life out of the white-haired author.

"HAAAAAAH? YOU SHOULD BE DOING IT FOR THE TEAM, IDIOT KIIISEEEEE!"

Shiro blinks in surprise when Kasamatsu flies out of nowhere and launches a kick onto the sobbing model's face before roughly pulling him up by the neck of his shirt.

"SAY SHIT LIKE THAT AGAIN ONE MORE TIME I'LL KICK YOU DOWN MT. FUJI!"

"But you already kicked me senpai –"

"Yukio-senpai."

Kasamatsu and Kise both snap their heads to their manager's direction. It takes a few seconds for Kasamatsu to process the situation properly before he realizes he's straight-up staring at the mildly disapproving face of Ichijou Shiro. Cue blushing and stammering.

"I understand that there is some form of disciplinary action needing to be taken when it comes to training and practice, but can you not kick Ryouta in the face? If you have to do it, do it on the chest," Shiro reprimands calmly, stepping way too close into Kasamatsu's breathing space again.

"Shirocchi! I'm happy and yet I'm not ~suu!" Kise sobs dramatically.

Shiro briefly ignores the blonde and focuses on the Captain in front of her. She still does not understand why her senpai's face is so red and why he's trying to avoid eye contact with her and looking like he wants to frantically blend into the wall behind him.

"A-A-Ahh..." Kasamatsu blubbers incoherently, his blush rising to the tips of his ears as Shiro steps closer to him.

"Also, it would be good if you do not forsake your health like this, Yukio-senpai," Shiro adds sternly, raising a hand and resting it against the captain's amazingly steaming-hot forehead, "you still have a fever. I recommend you –"

Kasamatsu faints for the second time that day.


Coach Takeuchi scratches his head in and stares at his phone screen in confusion.

May 23, Monday, 3:24pm

Ichijou: Takeuchi-sensei, Yukio-senpai fainted. We're taking him to the infirmary.

May 23, Monday, 4:34pm

Ichijou: We're borrowing the Panadol from the first-aid kit for Shinya-senpai's headache. Mitsuhiro-senpai will not stop slapping himself. It's been twenty minutes. Kouji-senpai also appears to be having an extremely severe stomachache and has not left the toilet in a while. Yoshitaka-senpai has frozen in place and we're trying to defrost him.

Coach Takeuchi pinches the bridge of his nose, and wonders how he's going to explain this to their parents. His phone vibrates.

May 23, Monday, 4:35pm

Ichijou: Takeuchi-sensei, Yukio-senpai fainted again.

Coach Takeuchi groans loudly. He is never leaving Shiro alone with his team ever again.


Kasamatsu jolts up from the infirmary bed.

"SHIT, WHERE AM I? WHO BROUGHT ME HERE? I NEED TO GO BACK TO PRACTICE –"

"Ah, Yukio-senpai, you're awake."

Kasamatsu freezes up as he notices that the warm, slender body of Ichijou Shiro is – yet again – in close proximity to him. Her white ponytail is tumbling over her shoulder and her silvery blue eyes are staring down at him in visible concern.

Kasamatsu's eyes can't help but dart down her body. He wishes he hadn't.

Because right now, Ichijou Shiro is wearing a low-cut nurse's uniform.

"Yukio-senpai, do you want some water –"

Kasamatsu's face blows up into an obscene, volcano-red color before he falls back onto the bed and passes out completely.


Shiro sighs to herself as she texts a quick message to Ryouta.

..

May 23, Monday, 5:00pm

Ryouta, it seems that your plan to make Yukio-senpai feel better has backfired. Senpai has fainted for the third time today.

After five seconds, Ryouta replies.

May 23, Monday, 5:00pm

Ryouta: Ehhh? Really? You wore the nurse's uniform, right Shirocchi? Show me ~suu!

One selfie pic later, she sends a text with the media attached to Ryouta and asks what is wrong with it.


"Ah, a pic from Shirocchi~"

Kise taps on the latest notification and hums to himself as he waits patiently for the image to download.

"I bet Shirocchi will look super cute in a nurse uniform~"

He sees the picture and spits out his drink.


This time, it takes twenty minutes for Ryouta to reply as Shiro changes back to her school uniform.

May 23, Monday, 5:20pm

Ryouta: Shirocchi. Delete this at once and promise me you won't take any more of these pictures again.

Shiro blinks in confusion and replies with a brief 'Okay' before packing up her things and returning to practice.


#Kise looks around nervously #he saves the picture on his phone #he's never letting Aominecchi see that picture


Author's Note:

Do not own KnB. Also, writing Takeuchi is impossible.

Also, I am aware that the formatting for the text is to the left instead of center, if anyone has any complaints on it, please PM me so I can change it.

Submit more reviews! They give me life and motivation to write! And a big thank you to three Guest users, gugusmith42, ILoveRebornNarutoKProject and Shiroji IA for the reviews!